A SPARKLING bit of work was the foundation to Valseur Lido’s scintillating display in the Grade 1 JNwine.com Champion Chase over three miles in Down Royal.

The seven-year-old gelding was having his first run for Henry de Bromhead since being part of the Gigginstown dispersal from Willie Mullins’ yard.

Ruby Walsh eased him into the lead from Silviniaco Conti before the penultimate fence and the pair drew clear coming to the last. An 11-length victory was duly secured by the 2/1 favourite.

De Bromhead said: “Super ride. He’s new to the yard so you don’t really know but he did a lovely piece of work and he just showed a gear that a real good three-miler may not necessarily have.

When asked if he would drop him back in trip, de Bromhead replied: “I wouldn’t imagine so but Michael, Eddie and Ruby know more about him.

“It looked at any stage of the race he could have picked them up. He seemed to be travelling so well.”

Fellow Gigginstown horse Don Poli, on his first start for Gordon Elliott, was off the bridle early on before being pulled-up by Barry Geraghty when trailing coming to the third last. Geraghty subsequently reported that his mount never travelled. Don Poli was found to be post-race normal.

Sub Lieutenant gave de Bromhead a quick double when comfortably accounting for his rivals by three and a half lengths in the the Grade 2 Titanic Belfast Steeplechase.

The Gigginstown representative gave David Mullins a lovely spin as he jumped for fun in this extended two-mile, three-furlong contest. He asserted after the second last to the cheers of punters who backed him from 2/1 to 6/4 favourite.

De Bromhead said: “He was impressive in Limerick but this was a different class of race. I’m delighted to see him do something similar. He’s funny, he’s a character. He’s just a brilliant jumper, when he sees a fence he just wants to go and jump it.

“David gave him a brilliant ride. They were hard at it from a long way and he was up there the whole way.

“Being a negative fellow I picked out the winners of two conditions chase in Gowran, just in case, at the end of the month but thankfully he’s not eligible for that anymore.

“The John Durkan would be one but I’ll speak to the lads. He’s only a second-season novice. He just loves travelling away. That’s the key to him I think.”

When asked if this was up there with the best of days for him, de Bromhead replied: “Sure it has to be. Winning a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 is incredible. We’ve been given an amazing opportunity and we want to try and take it the best we can.”

After landing four winners on the first day of the Northern Ireland Festival of Racing, Gordon Elliott bagged a pair on day two.

Mega Fortune, who fell early on in Thurles, grabbed compensation in the opening three-year-old hurdle.

Keith Donoghue’s mount wasn’t extended in posting a 13-length success for owner Chris Jones.

Elliott said of the 9/4 favourite: “He’s a nice horse and I’d say he will come on a good bit. He was very green through the race.

“I’d imagine he would go to Fairyhouse. He didn’t have much of a race there, it was only a schooling hurdle around there.

“In fairness to Keith (Donoghue), he has been with me from the start and we’ve had a few ups and downs. He is riding well and working hard. I think he is having his best season from when he was a 7lb claimer.

“We decided 11 stone is as light as he is going to do because he’s a big fellow. We let him do 2lbs overweight today because that’s the confidence we have in him.”

Elliott had to wait until the bumper to bring up his double, when 6/4 joint-favourite Runfordave wore down market rival Clara Sorrento to win by a length and a quarter. Luke McGuinness did the steering.

SLOAN FAMILY

Elliott said: “He’s only a baby, he’ll be a nice horse when he goes jumping hurdles. We’ll probably go jumping hurdles with him now. I’d say he’s green more than anything. He’ll stay.

“It’s good to have a couple of winners for the Sloans, who are big sponsors up here.”

The Sloan family also enjoyed a victory with Realt Mor on Friday’s card.

On having six winners at the festival, Elliott added: “Unbelievable. We had five last year. It’s a meeting we like to have runners at. The ones we thought would win got beaten but that’s racing.

“The northern tracks look after us very well so I try to support them as much as I can.”

Noel Meade was another handler to saddle a double. Sean Flanagan booted Bel Ami De Sivola home by three and a quarter lengths in the two-mile maiden hurdle.

The 5/4 favourite obliged for Gigginstown and afterwards Meade said: “He’ll make a lovely chaser. He was weak last year. Two and a half miles would probably suit him better.”

Tiger Sam, a six-year-old gelding, rallied for Donagh Meyler when headed on the run-in by Topper Thornton in the Rainbow Communications Handicap Chase. The pair kept on well close home to score by half a length.

Owner/trainer Meade said of the 7/4 favourite: “When I bought that fellow as a yearling he was a half-brother to Chief Dan George. I said to the man who bred him ‘he’s no good’ and he said to me not to worry about him as none of that family are any good until they are six or seven!

“He’s starting to improve a bit. He’s never won a hurdle race and he couldn’t win a point-to-point. He jumped quite well and he stays.”

Karl Thornton has always thought a lot of Wakea who put in a fine front-running performance to rout the opposition by nine lengths in the Grade C handicap hurdle.

The son of Cape Cross, owned by Gary Ryan, was backed from 11/1 to 8/1 and gave jockey Meyler two winners on the card.

Thornton said: “I can’t believe we got him. We paid 16 grand for him. He’s a fine horse and sound as a bell.

“He won his maiden hurdle here and John (Barry) said you need to wind him up. He said it takes three or four strides to get into top gear.

“He looks like a horse that will jump a fence. In fact hurdles are nearly too small for him. I’d say there is still a bit more. He is still a big baby in a lot of ways.”

Gigginstown House Stud won six of the 14 races held at this year’s festival.

ACTING STEWARDS: L. McFerran, Dr J.F. Gillespie, C.P. Magnier, N.B. Wachman, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

TURBOJET (Ms M. Richert) An excellent effort off a long absence, and for a new yard, to chase home the useful Bel Ami De Sivola.