NOT for the first time in recent weeks it was quite a day for J.P. McManus and Mark Walsh who combined for a treble which was headed by Elimay in the Listed BBA Ireland Ltd Opera Hat Mares Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained Elimay was following on from an excellent second to Allaho in the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles and is the foremost contender for the inaugural running of the mares’ chase at Cheltenham next month.

The 8/15 favourite eased into the reckoning on the approach to the straight in this two-mile affair and this race was as good as over when Elimay strode clear after the second last. Victory was assured once she cleared the last and she ran out a smooth five-and-a-half-length winner.

“The ground is quite testing down the back but Mark felt she really came alive when she got on the better ground and the further she was going the better she was going,” reported Mullins. “I would imagine she will be heading for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham.”

The same set of connections also landed the second division of the maiden hurdle with Gentleman De Mee (2/7) who was making his Irish debut after filling the runner-up spot on his two jumping outings in France.

The five-year-old son of Saint Des Saints made most of the running for a smooth four-and-a-half-length triumph over Don Diablo on his first start for 460 days.

“He’s in the Supreme and the Ballymore at Cheltenham and I think he will improve as he goes up in distance,” stated Mullins. “I was very happy with the performance and Mark thought that he was in control at all stages.”

Walsh treble

The other leg of the treble was supplied by Gordon Elliott’s Minella Till Dawn (12/1) in the handicap chase over two and a half miles. The nine-year-old powered through this race and shrugged aside a blunder five out to show in front before the turn-in to a cosy four-and-a-half-length success over Sovereign Gold.

“He’s a bit in and out but he has plenty of ability and Mark gets on very well with him. He’ll go for something similar again in a few weeks,” declared Elliott.

The Jamie Codd-ridden Eyewitness (13/2) went on to give Elliott a double in the four-year-old bumper. The half-brother to the Breeder’s Cup Mile hero Expert Eye was third in the first four-year-old bumper of the year at this track last month and he looked all the better for that outing.

The David Sharpe-owned son of Dark Angel quickened smartly inside the last quarter of a mile to open up a good lead over the chasing pack and he reached the line with four and a quarter lengths to spare over the well-supported newcomer Hashtag Watt.

“He learnt plenty from his first run and the ground was probably a bit better than what he ran on first time which helped,” stated Elliott. “We might try him in another bumper and he could go jumping once the new season begins and he’ll be one for the flat too.”

DRUID’S Altar availed of a drop in grade to win his second race over timber in the four-year-old rated novice hurdle. The Joseph O’Brien inmate had contested a series of quality contests since winning his maiden at Punchestown in November.

Hugh Morgan was on board the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate-owned 13/8 favourite who looked to be in control of this race from the second last.

Zoffanien raised an effort after the final flight but Druid’s Altar found plenty to contain his effort and prevail by two and a quarter lengths.

Interestingly, the last two winners of this race, Aramax and Band Of Outlaws, went on to win the Fred Winter at Cheltenham.

Favourite backers didn’t enjoy such good fortune earlier in the day as Captain Kangaroo (4/9) was turned over by Hurricane Cliff in the first division of the two-mile maiden hurdle.

A runner-up on two of his three starts over hurdles coming into this race, including when chasing home Frere Tuck at Punchestown last month, Hurricane Cliff had the measure of the market leader from the second last.

The Molesworth Syndicate-owned five-year-old responded well to Rachael Blackmore’s promptings to assert on the run-in and carry the day by two and a half lengths.

“He’s learning all the time and he’s a lovely, big scopey horse who should be good over a fence in time.

“We’ll aim for the likes of Fairyhouse and Punchestown with him,” commented de Bromhead.

Brassil’s charge raises his effort

THE very useful You Raised Me Up (9/2) returned from 143 days off to take the Connolly’s Red Mills Novice Hurdle and the lightly raced eight-year-old could be set for a good spring.

On his first run since landing a useful Listowel maiden hurdle in September, the 130-rated gelding was produced by Darragh O’Keeffe to pounce at the last and he defeated Petibonome by half a length. You Raised Me Up is owned by Chiat Kwong Ching and Sean Mulryan and was running for just the second time since taking third in the Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown a year ago.

“We were pleasantly surprised today when we saw what the ground was like,” stated trainer Martin Brassil. “The aim was to use this as a stepping stone for a run in either the County Hurdle or the Coral Cup at Cheltenham, and the drier the ground the better for him.”

There was a major gamble on the Charles Byrnes-trained Rough Terrain in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle but he was held when falling at the last and, in a frantic finish, Fou Diligence (7/1) and Tommy Brett got home by a neck from Wait Here.

Philip Dempsey trains the six-year-old for the Clogherhead-based Red Mans Cave Syndicate. The first six home here were covered by just over two lengths.