BRIAN Hayes landed the featured Navan Handicap Hurdle aboard Zanoosh which kickstarted a 396/1 treble for the jockey.

Zanoosh stepped into this €45,000 contest on a mark of 120 after winning a maiden hurdle by more than five lengths at Punchestown last month.

The 15/2 chance was never far from the pace for Hayes and came through to dispute the lead at the penultimate flight.

She had Hgranca De Thaix for company before the last, however, she was stronger close home in winning by a length for the Winning Ways Reunion Syndicate.

Trainer Colm Murphy said: “She’s as tough as old boots, she seems to handle the soft ground. She is still a novice and is still unexposed. She seems to be improving the whole time.

“There’s a mares’ race back here in three weeks, that will probably be an option as well. We’ll see how she comes out of it.”

Sean Flanagan was given a two-day suspension for frequency with the whip on runner-up Hgranca De Thaix.

Kevin Healy, rider of fourth-placed Sa Fureur, was handed a nine-day ban for frequency with the whip and a further eight-day suspension for force with the whip.

Joy riding

Hayes then successfully teamed up with Joystick in the QuinnBet Beginners Chase for Willie Mullins and Mrs Susannah Ricci. The seven-year-old gelding took over at the fourth fence, but was joined by 8/15 favourite Slade Steel three out.

Joystick rallied to lead at the last and forged on well along the run-in to spring a 16/1 shock by two and a half lengths.

Hayes said: “I got a lovely time in front, and jumped from fence to fence, and got an easy enough time of it. When Darragh (O’Keeffe, Slade Steel) came past me at the second last, I thought maybe he had me but I kept picking up and picking up and he was a good winner at the line.”

Made for winning

The treble was secured on well-backed Brown Boots (7/4 favourite) in the Gormanlough Handicap Chase over three miles.

The pair took closer order halfway and despite a mistake four out travelled well to lead at the penultimate fence.

The seven-year-old gelding moved clear before the last and stayed on to score by six lengths for owner John T. Murray,

Trainer Liam Cusack said: “It is a staying family, his (half) brother Ballygrifincottage was fourth in an Albert Bartlett (2022).

“To be honest now, first run in a handicap, first run over fences, you are always nervous. The main thing is to get around.

“Probably wasn’t a wonderful race and Brian was very happy with the way he jumped, he said he jumped super.”

JOSEPH O’Brien’s Zeus Power (6/1) collared 5/6 favourite Lazare De Star to take the honours in the Race Displays Rated Novice Hurdle over two miles for Power Thoroughbreds PTY Limited.

Lazare De Star picked up the lead on the approach to the penultimate flight, but needed the line in the closing stages as a patiently-ridden Zeus Power was produced by J.J. Slevin to challenge.

He stayed on well to claim the favourite close home for a three-quarters of a length success.

The jockey said: “Richie Deegan was unfortunately injured, so we better not forget him. I think so (progressing) - he coped with the ground, it is dead ground and he feels like he might go up in trip too so he is a grand horse.”

Roared home

Timesareachanging was roared home by enthusiastic syndicate members at 25/1 in the NavanRacecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle over two miles six furlongs.

The Mahler gelding disputed the lead and made the rest from the third flight. Philip Donovan asked him for more between the final two hurdles and his mount held Court Compliance by a length and three-quarters for the Times Are A Changing Racing Syndicate.

Andy Slattery said: “Good staying horse, loves that ground. Nice horse. The run at Christmas (third, Limerick) brought him on. He was off the track a long time before that.”

When asked about future plans, he replied: “I was thinking the Albert Bartlett. The boys would like to go to Cheltenham.

“Whether he’s good enough, but he will stay and he will jump. We’ll give him another run somewhere over three miles, a stiff three miles would suit him.”

ONE Big Boum was a decisive winner of the Ardmulchan Handicap Hurdle off the front in the hands of Niall Moore.

The 9/1 shot made all, with a healthy cushion for the most part, and cranked up the pressure after two out.

His nine rivals toiled in their pursuit of him as he sailed in by eight and a half lengths for the Grey Stays Syndicate.

Philip Fenton said afterwards: “First-time blinkers made a big help because we felt that he just about was doing enough, that’s all, before we put the blinkers on him.

“He’s big enough to jump a fence, so I’m sure we will end up over fences maybe sooner rather than later.”

The Irish Avatar (8/11 favourite) stretched right away to make a winning racecourse debut for Willie Mullins in the Racing Again Feb 8 (P-Am) INH Flat Race.

Patrick Mullins sent him clear a furlong down and didn’t have to get serious as the Poet’s Word gelding powered in by nine lengths for Gigginstown House Stud.

“It’s only in the last two weeks since we have really done a few sharp bits of work with him, that he has come.

“He wasn’t showing an awful lot early in the season. He is improving with every week now,” the jockey said.

“I’m really looking forward to him over jumps. I think that is really where he is going to be at his best because he has a big, high-cruising speed and that is his strength, I think.”