Blood Destiny makes strong chasing start with victory at Naas

A leading juvenile hurdler last year, he was sent off second-favourite for the Triumph Hurdle, in which he ran too keen and faded into ninth.

Fences look like calming him down, however, as he was far more tractable in the Bar One Racing “Bet 10 Euro Get 50 Euro Sign Up Offer” Beginners Chase and he barely put a foot wrong, powering away after the last to beat Heart Wood by nine lengths.

“He was dynamite everywhere and always looking for the next fence really. He’s a real chaser,” said Townend of the even-money favourite.

“They tried to push me and get him lit up, but I wasn’t interfering with him and he was getting a length everywhere with his jumping.

“He’ll come on from it and most of Willie’s do. He has a lovely attitude for it. He jumps so fast that he could come back in trip, but he’d have no problem staying at that trip either.”

Mullins and Townend then doubled up with Quai De Bourbon in the ALTO EQUINE Building Solutions Maiden Hurdle.

The 11/10 favourite runs in the Gigginstown House Stud colours and was always towards the head of affairs.

It briefly looked as if Fenway Park would give him a battle having jumped the final flight upsides, but like so many from the yard, Quai De Bourbon stuck his head down and galloped on relentlessly to win by four and a half lengths.

“He’s a stayer and is still quite raw for a lad that had two runs in France. I’d say it was lack of concentration, so I gave him a slap and when I let him on, it (the last) was the best hurdle he jumped,” said Townend.

“He’s a staying type and one you would associate with these colours.”

Jordan Gainford was taken to Tallaght University Hospital in Dublin for further examination following a fall in the two-mile handicap chase from the Moses McCabe-trained Derridae.

An update posted on social media by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board read: “Jordan Gainford is being transferred to Tallaght Hospital for further assessment on his injuries following Race 2. Jordan was conscious and communicating at all times.”

Only By Night in Cheltenham picture

Only By Night has got Gavin Cromwell dreaming of March having watched her cruise to victory in the Care At Home Services Mares Maiden Hurdle at Naas.

A Listed bumper winner, she was entitled to score on her hurdling debut and was sent off the 2/5 favourite in a field of 17.

Ridden confidently by Keith Donoghue, her sole rival remaining, Gordon Elliott’s Magic Dawn, was just beginning to feel the heat when she unseated Jack Kennedy at the final flight, allowing Only By Night to coast home by 10 lengths.

Betfair cut her to 14/1 from 20s for the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham.

“She’s a nice mare and when she won a Listed bumper you would hope she could come on and do that,” said Cromwell.

“She jumped well and was very straightforward.

“The first day she was a little bit keen with Derek (O’Connor) and the last day in Navan she improved from that. You can even see it in her work at home she used to be a bit keen, but she’s grown up now and is very straightforward.

“Hopefully she could be good enough to aim at the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham. We might as well dream here as in bed!”

She was completing a double on the day for Cromwell and Donoghue following the earlier success of 7/4 favourite Money Heist in the Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Handicap Chase.

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