EVEN though he made immense strides from a low starting base over hurdles last season, Flicker Of Hope has always looked a proper chasing prospect and he continued his rise through the ranks when winning the three-mile-one-furlong Easyfix Equine Novice Chase.
Despite being 11lb wrong at the weights with 5/6 favourite Kurasso Blue (rated 138), the Swords Bloodstock Limited-owned stayer was able to pick him off readily enough for a two-and-three-quarter-length success under Donagh Meyler.
“He’s a joy to have around the place and takes lengths out of everything over his fences,” said winning trainer Mark Fahey.
“I don’t know where we’re going next. We brought him over to Cheltenham last year and he was a bit disappointing. There are plenty of races at home, but we’ll see.”
Rockbrook’s brace
Another chaser on a roll at the moment, admittedly off lower handicap territory, is the Philip Rothwell-trained Rockbrook, who proved too tough to catch under Tiernan Power Roche on his way to a second success of the year.
The GVD Syndicate’s 7/2 shot had collected at Tramore on New Year’s Day and was bringing up a fifth career win in the two-mile Race And Stay Handicap Chase.
Rothwell said: “He loves soft ground and seems to be a nicer horse over fences than hurdles. He’s owned by a fantastic group of owners and having support like them, alongside good staff, is what makes everything possible.”
Cover cashes in
There were also back-to-back wins completed on the card by the Martin Brassil-trained Run For Cover (3/1 favourite), who galloped her rivals into submission in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under Conor Brassil.
After employing front-running tactics successfully at Fairyhouse four weeks earlier, Elaine Murray’s in-form mare was able to repeat the trick here in an 11-length victory where nothing else could land a blow from off the pace.
“We were trying to get her to settle because she’s very keen at home and when Conor rode her a couple of starts back at Punchestown, he reckoned we were wasting our time not making the running,” said the winning trainer.
“She’ll get further but she’ll probably be penalised because of her style of running means she’s either going to win or be swallowed up.
“At least she has won for the owners, and they have the mare so are happy breeders. She’ll jump a fence too.”
IMPRESSIVE bumper and point-to-point winner Future Prospect made a smart introduction to hurdles in the two-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle - earning a quote of 20/1 (from 50/1) for Cheltenham’s Ryanair Mares’ Novices Hurdle in the process.
The listed-placed bumper mare gave the impression she could reach better heights now tackling an obstacle, and a cosy nine and a half lengths was the margin of victory here for Willie Mullins, Paul Townend, Sue Magnier and Bronsan Racing.
Assistant trainer David Casey said: “She was very keen in her bumpers but Paul felt hurdles have helped relax her and they went a real strong gallop in front, which helped her settle. She jumped like a buck and stayed on well on the ground. I don’t think stepping up in trip would be an issue. We’ll see what options are around.”
No stopping Nudie
In the other mares-only event on the card, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase over two and a half miles, it was a case of one-way traffic as The Great Nudie, trained by Colin Bowe and ridden by Sean Flanagan, made every yard of the running on their way to a 12-length rout.
Owner Leo McArdle’s mare, sent off at 100/30, earned further blacktype over hurdles when third at Punchestown in November and translated that useful form back to fences here.
Flanagan said: “She’s a point-to-point winner, a very good jumper of a fence and jumping was the name of the game today. She’s a great mare - very game - and Leo is an unreal man with his passion for racing.”