Judgement Day made the most of his maiden status over timber to claim the Noel O’Brien Memorial Novice Hurdle for Henry de Bromhead.

The seven-year-old, won four races on the spin over fences last autumn and he maintained that progression for his return to the smaller obstacles.

Hugh Morgan replaced Rachael Blackmore aboard the Gigginstown-owned son of Martaline who headed the market at 9/4 and a willing Judgement Day rallied splendidly from an error at the last to see off Galilean and Lethal Steps.

“The way he won there he could take in another race or two over hurdles. Later in the summer I’d say we will definitely look at the likes of the Galway Plate and Kerry National for him,” said the trainer.

After his treble at Clonmel the previous evening, de Bromhead made it a double when Put The Kettle On, who claimed the notable scalp of Gypsy Island in a Navan maiden hurdle in November, won the Wright Windows 50 Anniversary Celebration Beginners Chase.

Fresh from a good third in a Punchestown Festival handicap hurdle, the One For Luck Racing Syndicate-owned mare was partnered by Robbie Power after he stepped in for the sidelined Rachael Blackmore. The 16/1 chance The Irregular held every chance when he exited at the last in an incident that hampered several others who were looking to close in.

“We’ll make the most of her novice status and keep her going through the summer and there’s a nice programme of mares’ race for her over the next few months,” commented de Bromhead.

A 50/1 Fest

Some 367 days after he was picked up for a mere €2,600 at the Tattersalls Ireland May Store Sale, the Kieran Purcell-owned and trained Fest Deiz sprang a 50/1 surprise under Johnny Barry in the bumper. The four-year-old brushed aside the favourite Santana Plessis over the last furlong and a half to win nicely by four and a half lengths.

“He was very green but we knew he was a lovely horse. He’s a good-actioned horse who loves good ground and will probably head for a winners’ bumper,” reported Purcell.

Love off the mark

Dot Love, who sent out five seconds during the first 12 days of the new season, deservedly got off the mark with the Cathal Landers-ridden Gotthenod (4/1) in the Irish Farmers Journal Maiden Hurdle.

Fresh from a second at Downpatrick a week previously, the Tommy Ward-owned daughter of Famous Name produced much better jumps at the last two flights than the chasing Cats For Cash which was the deciding factor in a seven-length triumph.

Suspension

Conor Orr was hit with a three-day whip for his efforts on Bridge Native who was fourth to Arctic Sofia in the handicap hurdle.

Two more for Elliott

GORDON Elliott continued his stunning run of form with a double which was completed by the prolific Mill Quest (7/4) in the Belvedere House Gardens Handicap Chase. Now a six-time winner over the last 10 months, the Coolglen Syndicate gamely responded to Davy Russell every call to get the better of Thecraicisninety by a length with the winner’s stablemate Allee Bleue back in third.

“She’s been a great servant and has held her form well since last summer. She was covered by Mount Nelson but she’s good to race on for another while and the plan would be to see if she could get blacktype at some point,” stated Elliott.

Arctic Sofia (5/1) made a winning start for the trainer in the 80-116 rated two-mile handicap hurdle where she registered the first success of her career. Denis O’Regan, who rode three winners for Elliott last season and was partnering his second of the new campaign for the trainer, produced the strong travelling five-year-old to lead at the last and she went on to defeat Coral Blue. Arctic Sofia is owned by Philip Murphy.

Hogan’s hot streak

There was quite a gamble landed in the two-mile maiden hurdle where Muyam Spirit continued the excellent run of the Denis Hogan yard. In a race that was restricted to horses that had never finished in the first three, this 95-rated five-year-old had finished no better than seventh in four previous outings but he was backed from 7/1 into 4/1 on track to reverse that trend.

Muyam Spirit was stuck in a pocket on the inner for quite some time but Mulcahy was able to extricate him from that position before the last and the pair finished out well to defeat Amor Verdadero by a head. Hogan’s charge is owned by his mother Mary and Kevin McConnell.