MARK Walsh conjured a late surge from Showurappreciation to bag the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final at Navan last Saturday.

The Jonathan Sweeney-trained gelding was sent to post 3/1 favourite in the €60,000 event and looked booked for second when Kish Bank kicked clear over the second last. J.P. and Noreen McManus’ home-bred dug deep on the run-in to record a hard-fought length-and-three-quarter success in the two-mile-and-seven-furlong contest.

Sweeney said: “Unbelievable ride! Absolutely top-class. You’d say going down the back ‘where is this fella gonna finish?’ He left them all at it.”

When asked about the Irish National, he added: “He’s in it, that’s two weeks’ time. I’ll talk to Frank (Berry) and we’ll see what Mr McManus wants to do - probably too soon. We’ll see. This was kind of a plan, and it worked out.”

Late challenge

Stamina proved key for the Charles Byrnes-trained Shabby Hill, as he got on top late on in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle, making it two from three under rules.

Philip Byrnes was rowing along on the 11/2 shot over the second last, but the Peter Mackin-owned Kalanisi gelding stuck to his task well, nabbing Timesareachanging close home for a half-length win.

Byrnes senior said: “I’d say the ones in front stopped. He got a lovely lead. We didn’t know what to expect, so it was a pleasant surprise. You could see him over three miles, he will make a nice chaser.”

Future chaser

Chasing is also the long-term aim with Kilgame (16/5), who took the opening Mongey Communications Maiden Hurdle under birthday boy Darragh O’Keeffe.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge made all in the two-miler and the Robcour-owned gelding stayed on well in the closing stages to record a two-and-three-quarter-length win over Begorra Man.

The trainer’s representative Robbie Power said: “He’s a fine, big horse and is going to make a lovely chaser next season. He deserved to win his maiden hurdle. He had good form in France and he had a good run in Leopardstown at Christmas.

“Fairyhouse might come a bit too soon after that, but we’ll have a look and see what options there are for him.”

FOUR days after opening her account at Wexford, Catchabird bagged a follow-up win in the Wilkinson Jewellers Of Navan Mares Handicap Hurdle under Aidan Kelly.

Trained by Sarah Connell for mother Clare, and bred by father Pat, the eight-year-old travelled well to lead over the second last and was left clear at the last when the challenging Stiltellinemnuttin crashed out. The 11/4 favourite could afford to ease up late on for a four-length success.

Kelly commented: “I’d say we have probably been riding her wrong her whole life. She used to be very keen, and we were dropping her in the whole time. Sarah said one day to start making a bit more use of her and it seems to have worked.

“I felt like I was cantering at the last and I thought it was only a push-button job, and she did it well.”

Well-deserved

Another mare to post a stylish win over timber was Champagne Venture in the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle. Danny Gilligan produced David Broad’s charge to lead on the bridle after the second last and the 7/2 shot asserted over the final flight for a cosy five-length win over Fly Away Home.

“It was a great performance,” said Broad, who trains the Champs Elysees mare for his father Arthur.

“She’s not winning out of turn. We think a good bit of her and we will probably tip away with her for another bit now and, if the ground dries up too much, we’ll probably travel and go somewhere like Perth.

“There’s a possibility she could step up for the novice handicap final at Fairyhouse, we’ll see. We will enjoy today.”

PATRICK Mullins was impressed with Glens Anthem after Willie Mullins’ well-backed newcomer pulled away in fine style in the concluding bumper.

Owned and bred by Mrs Fiona McStay, as was her dam Glens Melody, the Harzand filly led a furlong and a half from home and soon settled matters, going on to score by seven and a half lengths at odds of 9/4.

The winning rider said: “I love her! She’s an easy ride. She looks like a gelding and I think she is very, very good.

“I think there is plenty of improvement to come, she is very relaxed and I kind of had to keep waking her up. The idea coming here was to give her enough time to recover before the Grade 3 at Punchestown.”

Money talks

Moudan justified market support when taking the Kilberry Handicap Chase for Ciaran Murphy and owner/breeder Patrick McCormack. Eoghan Finegan had the 7/2 shot (8/1 in morning) to the fore throughout and led going to the last to record a two-and-a-half-length win over Park That.

The winning trainer commented: “The horse hit the line well and he handles that ground well. He jumped adequately and he is still going to improve in that department. He is a late developer. He’s doing very little wrong, which is lovely.

“There’s a nice handicap in Fairyhouse we have in our head, and that would sort of be the plan.”