NEARLY Nama’d claimed the EasyFix Handicap Chase for the second time when springing a 20/1 shock in the €50,000 contest at Fairyhouse last Saturday.

J.P. McManus’ charge had taken the 2015 renewal of the race for Sandra Hughes when a 40/1 shot and was again unfancied for the two-mile prize.

Now under the care of Austin Leahy, the Millenary gelding travelled smoothly behind the leaders for Luke Dempsey before launching his challenge two from home.

He fought it out with front-runner De Benno and Some Plan going to the last before asserting himself on the run-in to record a five and a half-length victory.

“He could come back here for the Dan Moore in January. He won it before. He did that well,” said Leahy afterwards.

“I have him since about June. Sandra had him before and did a good job with him because he won this race and another valuable one here.

“Things are going well but I know the other side of things as well!”

Youcantcallherthat also landed a decent pot when running out a convincing winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Chase.

Trainer/jockey Denis Hogan produced the 7/1 shot to lead at the second last and she powered clear from the final fence for a six-length win over longtime leader Magic Of Light.

“She couldn’t win a hurdle race but won a point-to-point for me and I stopped the boys from selling her. I said she’d win plenty of chases and thank God she is repaying me now,” said Hogan. “That’s a good pot and she probably go into the mares’ novice races at some stage. She got a fall in Wexford which may not have done her any harm and now she’s jumping super.

“We won 23 lengths in Cork but I didn’t know how solid the race was. I threw her in a handicap to see where we were and I said to the boys it was such a good pot that we had to take our chance.”

ENTHUSIASTIC

The enthusiastic Lostwelton Syndicate from Claregalway raised Hogan shoulder high in the winner’s enclosure and he added: “They are a wild bunch and they knock some craic out of it. They had Ocean Glandore and they only won small races with him but they have a nice mare now.”

Gordon Elliott saddled the one-two in the opening Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Beginners Chase with The Storyteller making an impressive debut over fences.

Keith Donoghue settled behind the leaders on the 11/4 shot before taking closer order two from home. He jumped into the lead with a fine leap at the last and stayed on strongly to beat stablemate Sutton Manor by four and three-quarter lengths.

“He’s a smart horse. I fancied him out of the way last year for Cheltenham but he pulled a muscle and never got there,” said Elliott.

“Keith gave him a very good ride because he was brave enough at home at a few of his fences. I told him to pop and hunt away and he let the boys race away in front and everything worked out great.

“We’ll look at something over Christmas at Leopardstown or Limerick. We’ll keep it small for him the next day and try and get a bit of confidence into the horse. He could go further in time as he relaxes and is a grand horse.”

OUTSIDER

Elliott was out of luck with hotpot Blow By Blow in the Irish Racing Yearbook Maiden Hurdle as he was just pipped on the line by 66/1 outsider Discorama.

The 9/10 favourite looked to have done enough when seeing off the challenge of Roseriver Has at the last but Kevin Sexton got a good tune out of the Paul Nolan-trained Discorama in the closing stages and he grabbed a nose victory at the line.

“I didn’t think he’d be ready for that but he’s a fair horse. The bumper he ran in at Thurles didn’t work out that great but the ground wasn’t that soft that day and it all happened a bit quick for him,” said Nolan, who trains the gelding for Thomas Friel and Andrew Gemmell.

“He loves jumping. He was actually quite keen in the race but he wouldn’t pick up the bridle at home. I couldn’t get over that he was so keen.

“Saddler Maker seems to be some sire and they just don’t know when to stop galloping. It looks like he’s a nice horse and hopefully he’ll kick on from there.”

There were two significant gambles landed on the card and the first of those was the victory of Midnight Stroll in the rated novice hurdle.

Robert Tyner’s charge was backed from 9/2 in the morning and went to post the 2/1 favourite. Philip Enright made smooth headway on the outer turning for home and hit the front before the last. His mount stuck on well in the closing stages to hold Didero Vallis by a length and a quarter for owner Brendan Keogh.

“He was workmanlike in the finish and the other horse was coming back at him. They didn’t go a great gallop and I’d say that suited him,” said Tyner. There is another one like this at Punchestown next Sunday, and we’ll see how he is during the week.”

Out Of The Loop was the best backed horse of the day as he saw his price shorten from as big as 6/1 in the morning into 5/4 favourite.

Mark Walsh produced the J.P.McManus-owned gelding to lead two out and Christy Roche’s charge fought off the attentions of Nobody Home going to the last to land a three and a quarter-length win.

Padraig Roche, the trainer’s son and assistant, said: “He’s one that has improved from every race, so if he keeps doing that he’s a grand horse. He’s still a baby and is only turning five, so hopefully he can keep improving.

“Mark gave him a great ride, and he likes that ground and that trip.”

WORK HARD

The Willie Mullins-trained Minella Encore (4/9 favourite) was sent off the shortest priced horse of the day in the concluding bumper but was made to work hard for his victory for owner David Bobbett.

Patrick Mullins arrived to challenge turning for home on the King’s Theatre gelding but front-runner Narcissistic proved a tough nut to crack and the hotpot was all out to gain a half length success.

The winning rider said afterwards: “He was a little green and I think he’s won with a bit up his sleeve. I expect he’ll improve a lot for the initial experience, and I’d imagine he’ll want a trip in time. He’s a horse that we like a lot.

“He’s won a point-to-point and he has loads of size so he’ll jump a fence. This is our first runner for Mr (David) Bobbett, and he has three horses with us.”

ACTING STEWARDS

R. Dore, J. M. McGrath, J. Martin-Smith, Dr P. Molony, H. Hynes.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

NARCISSISTIC (N. Meade) He went down fighting in the bumper and should be able to land a similar contest before long.