THE Gigginstown colours were carried to success in the Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase but not as many would have expected as A Toi Phil proved too strong for Galway Plate hero Balko Des Flos.

Balko Des Flos was sent off the 11/8 favourite in this two-mile, four-furlong event but A Toi Phil was not without his supporters either having been backed at 8/1 earlier in the day and sent off a 6/1 chance.

A mistake by the favourite when leading three out was pivotal with A Toi Phil soon taking over and streching clear from the last under Jack Kennedy to score by six and a half lengths.

“He travelled and jumped brilliant. His jumping is a big help and he’s very accurate. Davy (Russell) missed the third last and I winged it and he went on from there,” said Kennedy. “He’s very tough and the day he won the Leopardstown Chase he was off the bridle a long way out but he stays going.”

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott’s assistant Ian Amond said: “He’ll probably go to Down Royal next. He has a choice of races there and could go for the two-mile, four-furlong (Skymas Chase) for second season novices. It’s great for Jack to get a nice one like that and he gave him a great ride.”

Kilcarry Bridge turned what looked a competitive Kilkenny Racing Festival Handicap Hurdle into something of a rout by galloping his rivals into submission in this €50,000 three-mile event. The 10-year-old gelding was landing his fourth significant handicap success this year for the Darraugh’s Choice Syndicate and bringing his total prize money won to over €200,000.

SURPRISING

In the cicumstances it was surprising that he was sent off at 16/1 and Danny Mullins made virtually all, drawing clear in the straight to beat High Nellie by 10 lengths with Magic Of Light the same distance back in third.

Templemore trainer John Ryan said: “I couldn’t believe the price he was. He’s (rated) 138 over fences and 117 over hurdles and he’s better over hurdles. He stays three miles all day and won his point-to-point first time out, so distance is no problem. It’s a nice prize and hopefully the handicapper won’t be too hard on him.”

Gigginstown House Stud recorded a 503/1 treble on the day with their familiar maroon and white silks also on the mark with four-year-olds High School Days and Tout Est Permis.

Donie McInerney partnered his first winner for Henry de Bromhead when High School Days (7/1) led early in the straight of the Thomastown Handicap Hurdle to beat Dixie Highway by a length and three-quarters.

De Bromhead said: “I was worried about the ground but Eddie (O’Leary) said we should take our chance and he was spot on. She jumped great and I’m really looking forward to her over a fence in time. Donie is a lovely quiet rider and looks a good claimer.”

Tout Est Permis made an impressive debut over fences in the Join Our Racing Club Beginners Chase. Mark Enright had the 8/1 chance up with the pace throughout, and went clear from favourite Brelade on the run-in to score by six lengths.

“He jumped well, goes on the ground and stayed well. He was getting a lot of weight as a four-year-old, and we’ll have to see what the O’Learys want to do. He could mix and match it with hurdles,” said trainer Mouse Morris.

EXPERIENCE

Limerick publican Flan Costello teamed up with Rachael Blackmore to take the opening Golf Memberships 2018 From €500 3-Y-O Hurdle with Masterstonemason. The 9/4 chance and Foxy Lass vied for the lead throughout and Costello’s charge got on top on the run-in to score by a length and a quarter.

“His experience was a big help, and I think he’ll go on any ground. He’s a biggish horse, about 16.2hh, and is only growing into himself. If it was two and a half miles I think he’d win by an awful lot more as he stays at it forever,” said owner/trainer Costello.

Alletrix (10/1) showed the benefit of a run at the Listowel Festival when asserting before the last for Robbie Power to beat Cluan Dara by four and a half lengths in the Tattersalls Ireland Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.

“The ground was bottomless in Listowel but she has come on a hell of lot from that run, and needed two and a half miles. She also was getting all the allowances today, and is a very slick jumper,” said trainer Jessica Harrington who added, “It’s great that Sally (Rowley-Williams, owner) is here and she will head into mares’ races now.”

Kevin Brouder, who only rode his first winner at Listowel just over a fortnight ago, brought his career tally to three when partnering Deputy’s Pass (5/1) to a narrow victory in the Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel Handicap Chase.

The Scorpion gelding, trained by Alan Fleming for Barry Connell, struck the front before the last before just holding the renewed effort of Twiss’s Hill by a head.

ACTING STEWARDS

N. P Lambert, M. C. Hickey, Ms D. Brophy, Mrs J. O. Onions, M. F. O’Donoghue.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

BRELADE (G. Elliott): Jumped well on his chasing debut and should be winning soon over fences.