LIAM Burke moved on to his best seasonal tally for eight years as the talented but sparingly campaigned Sumos Novios notched up his first victory since April 2018 in the €50,000 Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase.

The now 12-year-old, who carries the colours of his trainer, lined up with age against him and he looked vulnerable to some younger and possibly more progressive rivals.

However, Sumos Novios had previously run a good second in this race in 2017 and over the course of the 20-race career he had shown that such a test was well within his capabilities.

Under top amateur Derek O’Connor, the Burke-trained veteran looked assured at all stages and jumped superbly while a number of his rivals made costly errors at various stages.

After leading the field into the straight, the 20/1 shot produced better jumps at the last two fences than the closing Minella Times who could find no more on the run-in.

At the line, O’Connor’s mount had three lengths to spare. Shane Shortall, who rode the third placed Shady Operator, was given a three-day whip ban.

“Derek gave him some ride. He rode Coolnahilla to win this race for me 14 years ago,” recalled Burke.

“He doesn’t quite see out three miles on heavy ground so we didn’t run in the Troytown and he won’t be going for the Thyestes.

“He could go for the Leopardstown Chase over two miles, five furlongs in February if the ground was suitable.”

A TERRIFIC run for Henry de Bromhead continued into Limerick where the red-hot trainer joined forces with Hugh Morgan to secure an opening race double.

The pair’s brace kicked off when Jason The Militant (4/1) edged a cracking conclusion to the Future Ticketing Maiden Hurdle over two miles. This Peter Michael-owned son of Sans Frontieres looked to be in trouble when he was joined by General Counsel at the last and that one edged ahead on the run-in.

However, Jason The Militant answered Hugh Morgan’s every call to edge back ahead in the final yards. This was a deserved success for this useful type whose career had begun with a third to Envoi Allen in a bumper and a second to Unexcepted in a Fairyhouse maiden two months ago.

De Bromhead and Morgan, who was riding his first double, then followed up with Fully Charged in the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle over just short of two and three quarter miles.

A fine second to Alpine Cobra at Punchestown in an earlier leg of this series suggested that this son of Fair Mix could take beating and he was operating on a different level to his rivals.

The 11/8 favourite stretched clear of a discouraged field from before two out and he handed out a 22-length beating to Silk Worm.

Terence O’Brien sent out his second winner of the meeting when Frere Fontaine took the Parkway Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle. The four-year-old endured a desperately narrow defeat at Thurles last time but made no mistake on this occasion.

He cruised into contention with the utmost ease for Philip Enright and when the 3/1 favourite was pressed by Isabel’s Gold he had any amount in reserve.

The Rebel Deise Syndicate-owned gelding was firmly in charge after clearing the final flight and he succeeded by half a dozen lengths.

Tom Hamilton was on board this very smart-looking son of Westerner whose battle with Julies Stowaway carried them well clear of the remainder over the last quarter of a mile.

The four-year-old got home by two lengths and looks yet another excellent prospect for O’Brien and Gigginstown House Stud whose strike rate in bumpers over the last couple of months is off the charts.

Just two days after finishing fifth to Young Dev in a handicap chase at this track, Halsafari landed quite punt in the D Pack Packaging Rated Novice Chase.

This six-year-old son of Solerina, who is trained by Michael Bowe for his brother John, collared a tiring Great Khan after the last fence and went on to a seven-and-a-half-length success to reward those that supported him from as big as 25/1 earlier in the day into a starting price of 6/1. The winning rider James O’Sullivan picked up a two-day whip ban for his efforts.

After enduring narrow defeats on his two previous visits to the track, Oliver McKiernan’s Life Isfor Living (8/1) got his turn in the Cube Living Handicap Hurdle over three miles. Barry Browne’s mount and Stormy Judge separated themselves from the rest of the field approaching the straight and a resilient Life Isfor Living carried the day by three and a half lengths. There was some 34 lengths back to the remainder.