THE decision to try Maxxum over fences again at Clonmel on Thursday paid off nicely as the nine-year-old recorded a smooth success in the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Chase.

Gordon Elliott’s charge jumped well on his return to the larger obstacles in the two-and-a-half-mile contest and was sent for home turning in by Jack Kennedy.

The easy-to-back 10/3 shot kept on strongly in the closing stages to record a two-and-a-quarter-length win over stablemate Dee Capo.

“The owners weren’t that keen to run him back over fences, but being so hard to place over hurdles, I convinced them to run here today,” said Elliott of Patrick Rabbitt’s winner.

“He did it well, jumped well and stayed galloping. I’m delighted with the way he jumped.

“He is a great horse and, now that he is back winning over fences, we will continue to pot hunt with him.”

Double up

Elliott doubled up later on the card when the well-bred Celtic Alliance made a winning debut in the KEP Italia Maiden Hurdle.

Jake Coen did the steering on the 7/1 shot, who led two from home and quickened away nicely to beat Mastertown Miss by two-and-three-quarter lengths.

Nice surprise

The daughter of Order Of St George is a half-sister to Grade 1 runner-up Absolute Notions and Elliott said of her: “She has been struggling on the heavy sand at home, so we were worried about the ground.

“To be honest, I’d say it was a very low-grade race although she was tough. She surprised me, so we won’t complain.

“It is a boost for her owner Judith Matthews, who came out of hospital yesterday, so it is nice to give her a winner.”

Chanay proves a class act for Brassil

THE easiest winner on the day was undoubtedly Kaiser De Chanay in the ‘unplaced’ maiden hurdle over two miles and three furlongs.

Ricky Doyle made all on the 11/8 favourite and he skipped clear before the last for a facile 11-length victory over Drombane.

Trainer Martin Brassil said of the six-year-old: “We had been riding him wrong and not making enough use of him.

“He gives horses ‘leads’ schooling over hurdles at home and had his ears pricked today, looking for the next jump. It was straightforward and we might give him one more run before the summer.”

It also proved straightforward for High Kick Kev in the concluding bumper, when the Maxios gelding made a winning start for trainer Mark Fahey.

The five-year-old was making his first outing for the Monasterevin handler, having won a point-to-point for Garry Aherne in February.

Sweeping run

Derek O’Connor, who rode him to success between the flags, was again in the plate and produced the 4/1 shot with a sweeping run to lead on the home-bend.

High Kick Kev galloped on powerfully down the straight to record a six-and-a-half-length win over 5/6 favourite World As One.

“He is a grand horse and was pretty fit when he came to us, so we haven’t been doing a whole lot with him,” said Fahey.

“I’m not sure whether we pop him over a hurdle or put him out now, so we’ll see.

“Pat (Moran, owner) has been a lucky man with me and it was worth his while driving down from Castlebar today.”

Roc My Haarth gained a deserved breakthrough success when trying fences for the first time in the KEP Italia Handicap Chase.

The Ray Hackett-trained gelding was produced to lead going to the second last by Liam Quinlan and a fine leap at the final fence settled matters.

The 13/2 shot eased up late on for a three-and-a-quarter-length success.

“He has had some cracking runs but then, when he should be stepping forwards, he would throw in a stinker,” said Hackett.

“He is a good horse with a good pedigree and is bred by a very good woman, Sharon O’Brien, who was kind enough to lease him to the lads (Ballyvara Racing), who are all local, so it is has worked out super.

“He will stick to fences now as he seemed to just get run out of it over hurdles.”