RAFFLES Dolce Vita, who made all under J.J. Slevin to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase, was arguably the most impressive winner on Leopardstown’s eight-race card on Tuesday.

A third winner at the two-day fixture in the double green silks of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, the 5/1 chance went clear down the back straight in the two-miles-and-one-furlong contest and kept on well from the second last to beat Come Walk With Me by eight lengths. Odds-on favourite Karoline Banbou was beaten in third when taking a tired fall at the last.

Winning trainer Tom Gibney explained: “He was kind of stopping at the three-quarter-way stage in his races, having looked to be travelling really comfortably before that. I didn’t know why, because he’s not slow.

“He’s a forward-going horse, and I said I’d drop him back in trip and let him rattle. The shorter trip has definitely suited, and it worked out well for us with the small field and being left alone.”

Leaves it late

Joyau De Thaix (9/2) finished with a flourish under Eoin Staples to claim an unlikely victory in the following beginners’ chase over two miles and five and a half furlongs. The grey son of Karaktar jumped the last in fourth, but came home strongly to post a length and three-quarters success over Dameauscottlestown.

Trainer Paul Nolan said of Lynne and Angus Maclennan’s seven-year-old: “I knew he’d stay at it and he jumped well.

“Hopefully, he’ll make into a nice staying chaser on soft ground, and he definitely wants three miles.”

Strong finish

Plenty held chances on the run to the last in the John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap Chase and it was Harbour Highway (7/2) who found most to score under Alan O’Sullivan.

Lisleigh Lad went a few lengths clear early on the run-in, but the winner went in pursuit and finished best under the stands’ rail to score by half a length.

“He had a nice run here at this meeting last year, in a maiden hurdle, and I’d say he’s just improved for a bit of nicer ground,” said Emmet Mullins, who trains the seven-year-old for J.P. McManus

“It was a lovely ride by Alan, he rode him with plenty of confidence. It keeps everyone happy and confident going into next week.”

Gigginstown and Gordon Elliott combine for a double

GORDON Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud combined to land the opening two races with Generous Risk (6/4) making most under Sam Ewing in the Golf, Padel, Range At Leopardstown Launching Spring 2026 Maiden Hurdle.

On his third ride back after an injury-enforced absence, this was a return to the winner’s enclosure for Ewing, who was filling in for the suspended Jack Kennedy. The hurdling debutant went clear after the final flight to beat stablemate Haveanothertry by nine and a half lengths.

“He had a couple of good runs in bumpers, but was just being hard on himself, so we said we’d go jumping,” said Elliott.

“He’ll probably make a chaser next year. It’s not like us to go jumping a hurdle at this time of year, but he’s six, so we said we’d let him rock on.”

Well-related

Torpille Dagrostis completed the Elliott/Gigginstown brace in the 1888 Restaurant Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Sent off the 4/5 favourite under Josh Williamson, the French-bred was prominent throughout over a trip just short of two miles and five furlongs, and stayed on well to hold Alliteration by three-parts of a length.

“She’ll definitely get a trip and she’ll jump a fence in time too,” said the winning trainer.

“She’s got a good pedigree and, if we could rob a bit of blacktype with her, it would be very important. She’s a full-sister to Itchy Feet.”

Curling aiming bumper winner at Aintree

THE Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race went to Ealu (11/4), who scored readily in the hands of Derek O’Connor.

The veteran amateur had ridden the daughter of Getaway in a Boulta point-to-point in November, where she came down two out when very much in contention. Fitted with a tongue-tie for her rules debut, she headed front-running favourite Araminta just over a furlong out to post a five-length win.

“She’s a lovely mare. I’d say she would have won the first day at Boulta,” said winning trainer Sam Curling.

“In fairness, her owner Pius Collins was offered a good bit of money and he said he’d keep her. She’ll go for a black-type bumper, she’ll probably go to Aintree, and I’d say she’ll even be better on a bit better ground.”

Smart mare

Off a mark 8lb higher than when winning her previous start at Down Royal in January, Missus Beeton (15/2) followed up in stylish fashion under Donagh Meyler in the QuinnBet Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The daughter of Mamool, owned by Kieran Corrigan, travelled strongly throughout and stretched clear for a five-length victory over Onefortheditch.

“She’s very small, you can see the winner’s rug is swimming on her, but she’s a lovely, honest filly,” said trainer Philip Dempsey.

“She jumps away well and could mix it between hurdling and chasing in the summer.”

Family affair

Daydream Nation (11/2) was a winner for the Harvey family in the QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle over three miles. The Doyen gelding took over on the approach to the last and was driven out to score by two lengths from He’s Home Again.

Jockey Ben Harvey, riding for his trainer father William and the Daydream Nation syndicate, commented: “I wasn’t too sure what to expect, as he disappointed us a bit in Thurles the last day.

“He got a bit worked up before the race last time, but was very relaxed here today. It was his first handicap, I thought it was a big ask, but he went through the race very well and was very professional.”