REST OF THE CARD

GIGGINSTOWN’S 13/8 favourite Alpha Des Obeaux ended a frustrating run of seconditis when registering an 11-length victory under Bryan Cooper in the Grade 2 John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle to put himself in line for the World Hurdle, for which he is generally an 8/1 shot.

Trainer Mouse Morris stated: “In fairness to him he’s been beaten by some good horses and I was very happy with him. He’ll probably go to Cheltenham now but we’ll have to discuss it first with Michael and Eddie O’Leary. He showed in Liverpool that he’s a better horse on better ground but there was nothing wrong with him there!”

The Willie Mullins-trained Footpad got his career back on track with an eased down success under Ruby Walsh in the three-runner Ladbrokes Hurdle confined to four-year-olds and remains unchanged with both Boylesports and Paddy Power for the Triumph Hurdle, a race his trainer “wouldn’t be shying away from.”

Jointly owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and sent to post the 1/10 favourite the French-bred asserted before the last to take Jazz Ranger’s measure by 12 lengths. Footpad had been successful over both course and distance in November and Mullins commented: “He jumped a little bit sharper than he did at Leopardstown at Christmas and I think he’ll go to Leopardstown for the Grade 1 in two weeks time. I was disappointed with him last time where I thought he jumped too big and didn’t race properly.”

The trainer and jockey followed up with the even money favourite Au Quart De Tour who made every yard in the colours of Susannah Ricci to land the Langton House Hotel Maiden Hurdle. The six-year-old only had to be kept up to his work from the last to see off Alamein by eight lengths.

“He jumped well and stayed well and could easily get another half mile or more,” said Mullins. “There’s plenty of improvement left in him and I think those Robin Des Champs handle that ground. I’d imagine he’ll be entered in everything, novice-wise.”

MASTER OF CLOSUTTON

The master of Closutton then supplied Bryan Cooper and Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud with a double later in the day via Tell Us More who clicked at the second time of asking over fences with success in the PMF Accountants Beginners Chase.

The 4/6 favourite cut out a lot of the running and, despite reaching for the second last was untroubled to score by six lengths from Mount Gunnery. His handler commented: “He needs to brush up on his jumping and needs to go further. He’ll be entered for Cheltenham but we might keep him for the Ryanair Gold Cup which, being sponsored by his owner, will be his target. I’d like to get another run into him before then.”

Jessica Harrington and her daughter Kate denied the Mullins camp a four-timer when their 3/1 chance New To This Town outpointed the odds-on favourite Avenir D’Une Vie in the P.J. Foley Memorial Flat Race.

Successful on his only start at Thurles the Milan gelding, who runs in the colours of the syndicate of the same name, gained further admirers when responding to pressure from his rider to overhaul the market leader in the closing stages for a one and three-quarters of a length win.

Mrs Harrington enthused: “It was a proper race and he’s a fair machine.” Asked about the five-year-old’s chances of lining out in the Cheltenham bumper his trainer quipped: “The people who own him didn’t really want me to run him in a winner’s bumper, so we’ll have to see.”

Ambrose McCurtin notched up his first winner since turning professional on John Joe Walsh’s ultra-consistent front-running 5/1 chance Page Turner in the Martinstown Opportunity 80-123 Handicap Hurdle. This 11-year-old was winning his fifth race for his owner David O’Meara when holding the determined effort of the favourite Ice Cool by a length. Walsh reflected: “He was 20lb better off today than he was over fences so I thought it was an opportunity for him.”