CONOR Brassil, who has recently started riding out three days a week at Gordon Elliott’s yard, partnered Roi Des Francs to win the featured Daily Mirror Chase at a cold, windy and sometimes wet Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day.

Disputing with, or chasing, Sizing Coal from the outset, Gigginstown House Stud’s Poliglote gelding, who was sent off the 6/5 favourite, went into lead after the 10th fence and made the rest of the running to see off his rival by seven lengths.

Brassil credited the win to the fitting of first-time blinkers on the eight-year-old. “We had them on him yesterday morning and they lit him up,” he commented. “I was on my own long enough but he came alive under me again at the third last and I knew they would find it hard to get by me after that.”

The win brought up a double for the young Kildare jockey who was most fortunate to claim the opening Guinness Maiden Hurdle as, having made all the running on Jack Dillinger, Mark Enright looked on course to land the two-miler when still clear at the final flight. However, the Westerner gelding stumbled on landing, sending Enright out the side door.

Sharing the chasing role for most of the journey, Brassil was suddenly left in front with his father Martin’s charge Geneva Barracks who went on to beat Colwinston, who had disputed second place throughout, by 14 lengths.

“He was always going to win a maiden at some stage,” said Brassil senior of the winner whose owner, J.R. Brennan of Ballywilliam, Co Wexford, missed the race because he was in Cheltenham. “He would have been a bit closer to the leader going to the last if he hadn’t pecked himself three out and then they were lucky to avoid the loose horse.

“I wasn’t sure he was getting the trip but now that he has got his head in front hopefully he can go on from here,” concluded the Kildare trainer. Geneva Barracks, a five-year-old gelding by Thewayyouare, had made a promising start to his career when second in a Fairyhouse bumper a year ago to Forge Meadow.

Gold Cup-winning trainer Jessica Harrington brought up a quick double when the Mark Bolger-ridden Bright Tomorrow, who led five out, saw off the challenge of the 5/4 favourite Crest by two lengths in the two-and-a-half-mile Guinness Rated Novice Chase.

“The better ground helped him here today and he jumped really well,” said Bolger of Michael Buckley’s six-year-old Robin Des Pres gelding. “He kept going all the way to the line and there is plenty of improvement in him.”

Maple Mons, who finished second to Foxrock in the Tetratema Cup at Gowran Park last Saturday, was turned out quickly by Derrylin trainer David Christie and duly won the Daily Mirror Hunters’ Chase here by seven lengths with Declan Lavery in the saddle. Colin McBratney’s Quiet Account finished second.

“She was in great shape today, even better than last week,” said Christie, who was accompanied by the mare’s breeder Ray Charles. “She is the toughest horse I ever trained and she can go back-to-back no problem. I liked the way she went away from the other horse after the last. This is her final season to race before going to stud so we need to find another race for her, perhaps the ‘Joseph O’Reilly’.”

Tyrrell’s Succes had to survive a stewards’ enquiry before being confirmed the winner of the Daily Mirror Handicap Hurdle which was good news for the five-strong High Flying Hooves Syndicate – and their supporters – who had already loudly celebrated the victory.

Ridden by in-form amateur Noel McParlan, the Forestier six-year-old took it up on the outside turning for home. He and the challenging Returntovendor came close together over the final two flights but at the post, it was the staying-on Bearly Legal who finished second, three-parts of a length adrift. Returntovendor was just a neck back in third. Tyrrell’s Succes is trained by the absent Aaron Stronge. “He was just a bit lazy in front,” suggested the trainer’s representative Danny Fitzsimmons who rides the horse each day at home. “We expected him to run well today and also the last day but the ground was against him then. We were always hopeful that he would be better on better ground. He can go on from here and up in trip. He has come up against some top horses in bumpers and over hurdles and deserved this.”

Barry Browne gave L’Attesa an astute ride to land the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle in the colours of the Red Green & White Syndicate.

The Kalanisi gelding was held up in mid-division until improving to head The Irritator as they turned down to the second last. The 7/1 shot soon went clear and there was a five-and-a-half-length gap between the pair at the line with a neck back to the never-nearer Black Kettle.

The winner is one of just five horses being trained for the track by Shane Nolan who was fairly confident of success. “We had been waiting on the ground to dry out and decided to come up here today. He has been in good form and, while we were thinking of going chasing, we may stay over hurdles for a while.”

Speaking on behalf of the winning syndicate, which includes a couple of British members, Thomas Mulligan said: “We like coming north and he’ll probably run at Downpatrick next.”

A gamble was landed in the concluding Mares Bumper when Danny Benson took the spoils on the Pat Fahy-trained Dazzling Sarah. A late-maturing Stowaway bay, the five-year-old, who is considered a chaser in the making by Fahy, is owned by our East Galway breeder James Coen.

ACTING STEWARDS

R.S. Martin, L. McFerran, C.P. Magnier, F.G. Fitzsimmons, P.W. Murtagh.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

JACK DILLINGER (E.P. Harty): Not too brave a choice, this Westerner gelding didn’t deserve to lose the first race having made all the running until unseating at the final flight. Hopefully, connections will be recompensed shortly.