A round-up of the rest of Sunday's meeting from Fairyhouse as Zanahiyr easily won the Grade 3 Bar One Racing Price Boost Juvenile Hurdle.
Juvenile joy for Zanahiyr
Zanahiyr (16/5) took the Grade 3 Bar One Racing Price Boost Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse in superb fashion.
Gordon Elliott's charge - a maiden hurdle winner at Ballinrobe last month - loomed up alongside odds-on market leader Saint Sam three from the finish as the pair settled down to fight it out, and by the next flight the race was all but over.
Zanahiyr was still cruising on the winner under Jack Kennedy as Saint Sam was made to look one paced, and a silky jump at the last sealed the deal.
He coasted home to beat Saint Sam by a yawning 14 lengths.
“We thought he was nice at home,” said Elliott.
“He did it well in Ballinrobe, and I thought he came on a lot from the race.
“I thought it was a good performance. Jack said he travelled and jumped. He did it all very easily.
“He’s a big horse and is going to get stronger. He’s not just a juvenile and could be a nice horse for those good staying Flat races as well.
“He’ll probably want another run before the Triumph, so he could go to Leopardstown at Christmas or February. We’ll try and keep him and Quilixios apart as long as we can.
“That’s Noel and Valerie Moran’s first Graded winner, so that’s very important as well. They are big investors in the game.”
Sky Bet cut the winner to 9/1 from 25s for the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, with Betfair and Paddy Power even more impressed, going 8/1 for the Festival.
The firm's Michael Shinners said: "Zanahiyr was incredibly impressive and has put down a real marker for the juvenile division. We now go 9/1 from 25/1 for the Triumph Hurdle in March."
Court slams Porterstown field
Court Maid was a really impressive winner of the BARONERACING.COM Porterstown Handicap Chase for David and Tom Mullins.
The mare - still a novice but well fancied as a 17/2 shot - relished the three-mile-five trip and came 13 lengths clear of Noel Meade's 6/1 favourite Brace Yourself.
The winning trainer said: "We always thought her target would be the Irish National but she's come here and won. We'll see after today. She disappointed at Punchestown but everything went wrong and we just put a line through that."
“We’ve always thought the Irish National was her target, but she went ahead of us and won today!” said the successful trainer.
“The prize money was bumped up today, so we’ll see what happens. She has the class. She disappointed at Punchestown in the Florida Pearl – but everything went wrong, so I just put a line through it.”
Rest of the meeting...
The opening Bar One Racing Best Odds Guranteed Irish EBF Mares' Handicap Chase went the way of Mega Mindy, ridden by Bryan Cooper and trained by 'Shark' Hanlon.
The seven-year-old was sent off at 20/1 but defied the market with a neck defeat of 17/2 chance Cushinstown Finest.
The winning jockey said: "After her run the last day, Shark said this was the race for her and he fancied her big-time to be fair.
"His horses are flying and it's great to ride a winner on one of these days. I had a bit left and she pulled up when she got to the front."
Advanced Virgo was a 14/1 winner of the Bar One Racing Extra Places Handicap Hurdle, for Charles Byrnes and Kevin Brouder.
Byrnes said: “I’m very happy. He looked to be on a nice mark, because he’d shown improved form on the Flat.
“We’re not having too many winners, which might explain his price – Leopardstown in February might be an option.
“He jumped out to his left early on but then he warmed up.”
Grand Paradis (6/5 favourite) ensured it was a day Elliott would not forget in a hurry, bringing up a four-time for the stable when taking the closing bumper. He had earlier also won with Envoi Allen and Ballyadam.