SPIDER Web’s victory in the €50,000 TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase and Grand Partner’s successful warm up for a possible County Hurdle bid made it a fine afternoon for Tom Mullins at Leopardstown yesterday.

In the course of producing a career best display Spider Web did burst a blood vessel so he went straight to the stable yard rather than return to the enclosure but he was subsequently reported to be comfortable by his trainer. The J.P. McManus representative was a well backed 7/2 favourite to add this race to the course and distance success he recorded over Christmas and he found this two miles five furlongs test more suitable than last month’s Grand National Trial at Punchestown in which he finished sixth.

The lightly weighted gelding did everything right through the race for Mark Enright and, having been involved in some barging with Blast Of Koeman on the run to the last, he headed Uncle Danny early on the run-in. The latter was keeping on again in the closing stages but Spider Web held on to prevail by two lengths.

“He burst and when he last ran at Punchestown he finished a little distressed so the vets were on guard for that and felt it would be better for him to go to the yard,” said Mullins. “He was calm and not distressed when I saw him and his heart rate is normal. He might be left off for the season.”

ON COURSE

Next Friday’s County Hurdle is still on the agenda for course specialist Grand Partner (5/1) who notched up his fourth win at Leopardstown in the TRI Equestrian Superstore & Cafe Handicap Hurdle.

The 10-year-old, who seems to reserve his best for this venue, was looking to improve on his third in this race last year and quickly stamped his authority in this two miles event when taking over in front before the last.

Bryan Cooper then sent him into a clear lead and Grand Partner finished with a length and a quarter to spare over the staying on Chesterfield King. “He loves this place and the lad who rides him at home told me he was in great form coming here,” commented Mullins whose wife Helen owns the winner.

“He’s in the County Hurdle and he could well go over next week.”

BOOST FOR HARRINGTON

A day after she had to rule Sizing John out of the Gold Cup Jessica Harrington received a welcome boost as the one time star hurdler Jezki picked up the two and a quarter miles conditions hurdle. Some four years after he won the Champion Hurdle the J.P. McManus-owned 10-year-old was taking his tally to 16 victories from 31 starts and he showed that he still retains much of his old ability.

All five of the runners were in with chances of some sort coming to the final flight and Jezki (11/10) looked as though he might have compromised his chances when diving through that last obstacle.

However, the former champion was quickly back an even keel for Barry Geraghty and readily picked off the former Grade 1 scorer Lieutenant Colonel for a cosy two lengths triumph.

“It’s great to see him back. Barry said he was just very long at the last and he nearly gave it away but he picked up well afterwards,” observed Mrs Harrington. “It will be either Aintree or Punchestown for him next. He ran quite well here last month when he was fourth in the Irish Champion Hurdle.”

The 2015 Doncaster Cup scorer Pallasator, whose jumping career had begun with a couple of solid efforts in defeat, was a commanding winner of the two and a half miles Donohoe Marquees Maiden Hurdle.

The nine-year-old was happy when getting a lead from Tara Dylan for much of the final circuit and he was much too strong for his opponents in the closing stages.

Davy Russell allowed the Qatar Racing Limited-owned gelding to stride to the front again off the last bend and the 2/1 shot pinged the last before lengthening away to come home seven a half lengths ahead of Dunvegan.

“That was straight forward. He had a good look at his hurdles early on but he then got a nice lead and he was very good at the last two flights. He was a very good flat horse and was a fair sort of maiden coming into this,” stated Russell whose mount could well move up to Grade 2 level at Fairyhouse over Easter.

Crosshue Boy (10/1) turned in a commendable effort from the front to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase for trainer Sea Doyle and owner Niall Heffernan.

He produced an excellent round of jumping for J.J. Slevin and kept his pursuers at bay in the straight to finish four and three quarter lengths clear of Fenlon’s Hill. The 2/1 favourite Thirsty Work was in the process of unwinding with a menacing challenge when he exited at the final fence.

rHYTHM

“He got into a lovely rhythm with his jumping and that’s probably what won it for him. He stays much further but his jumping was a big help to him coming back to two miles,” reflected the winning rider.

The Pat Rooney-trained veteran Witness Of Fashion (8/1) bagged his second victory of the campaign in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase.

In the closing stages Trevor Ryan’s mount and Se Mo Laoch did battle and the 12-year-old was a shade stronger on the run in as he got home by a head.

“It’s nice to see him back to form. He got a fall at Thurles earlier in the season and it just took him a while to get his confidence back,” declared Rooney whose wife, Lorraine, owns the winner.

“He might head to Limerick on Sunday week and there is a lady riders chase at Fairyhouse next month that he could go for as well.”

The consistent Artic Pearl made his second try over fences a winning one in the beginner’s chase which was restricted to horses rated 109 or less over hurdles.

The 3/1 favourite kept on well from the last for Mark Walsh to see off El Vasco by a length and a quarter. Martin Brassil trains the seven-year-old for Sean Mulryan.

There was some compensation for the Jessica Harrington team when Sizing Pootsie (11/4) completed their double, taking the closing TRM Excellence In Equine Nutrition bumper with Kate Harrington in the Ann and Alan Potts colours. The Gordon Elliott-trained favourite Whoshotthesheriff finished third at 6/5.

Willie Mullins was happy with Killultagh Vic after the Gold Cup hopeful schooled over eight fences, In company with stablemate Kemboy, after racing.

A last fence faller when leading in last month’s Irish Gold Cup, Killultagh Vic was partnered by Ruby Walsh while Paul Townend took the mount on Kemboy.

“Kemboy was very slick and good. Killultagh Vic was careful over the first couple as he got his confidence back after his fall the last day but he was good after that,” said Mullins.

“At the second last Killultagh Vic was a bit careful but he was good over the last and I’m happy. He was careful which was to be expected and it was good to get that round of jumping into him ahead of next Friday.”

ACTING STEWARDS

L. McFerran ,J.M. McGrath, J. Murphy, P. McCartan, P.D. Matthews.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

GOLDEN SPEAR (A.J. Martin): This gelding caught the eye when finishing fourth in the handicap hurdle won by Grand Partner. He travelled nicely through the race and was noted putting in some good work after the last. This run could leave him poised to challenge strongly for a good handicap at Fairyhouse or Punchestown.