REST OF THE CARD

ELECTRIC Concorde looks to have booked his place at Cheltenham with a gritty success in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle, which provided Jim Culloty and owner Dr Ronan Lambe with their second success of the meeting.

On just his fourth outing over timber and his first venture into handicap company, the King’s Theatre gelding raced up with the pace for David Mullins before then striking for home off the last bend. The favourite Isleofhopendreams managed to extricate himself from the rail to launch a strong challenge on the run to the last but he wasn’t at all as fluent as the leader at that flight, which was the deciding factor in the head verdict. As ever, the battle for the placings – the first six home qualify for Cheltenham – was an interesting one and both Woodford Island and Presenting Percy showed up well in fourth and fifth respectively.

“He’s tough and he stays well and we’ll aim towards the final of this race at Cheltenham,” commented Culloty.

“He was unlucky at Galway last time when he got squeezed up and made a mistake two out. Only for that Paul Townend felt he might have won. My worry was his lack of experience so that’s why we rode him the way we did.”

MULLINS AGAIN

Another good day on the meeting’s undercard for Willie Mullins yielded three other winners and his Bleu Et Rouge did exceptionally well to make a successful first venture over fences in the Ballymaloe Foods Beginners Chase.

Last season’s Grade 1-winning novice hurdler produced a decidedly indifferent round of jumping and looked a forlorn hope after two out.

However, Barry Geraghty’s mount steadily closed in on the leaders and he stormed home from the last to deny Gangster what had looked a certain victory.

“He had schooled well at home but didn’t show it there. He seemed to get a fright at the first and I thought that was an extraordinary effort to win given how he jumped against horses like that,” commented Mullins, who trains the winner for J.P. McManus. “He must have a huge engine and he’s a nice one to have.”

Earlier, Montalbano made a successful Irish debut in the two and a half-mile At The Races Maiden Hurdle. The Susannah Ricci-owned French import was placed at stakes level on the flat, while his only previous outing over hurdles yielded a second in a listed event at Auteuil in March.

Ruby Walsh bided his time on the four-year-old son of Monsieur Bond who was travelling nicely on the heels of the leaders after the second last flight.

The 8/11 shot then looked to be momentarily in trouble nearing the last as he looked to pick up Youcannotbeserious and Black Key but he responded well to pressure to eventually pull two and three-quarter lengths clear.

“He was quite keen at home last week so I wanted to get him to settle. He jumped super and travelled well and quickened up well when he had to,” reflected Walsh.

The odds on Carter McKay (1/2) made it four winners on the card for the champion trainer in the Midland Legal Solicitors Flat Race. In the Pearl Bloodstock colours, the winning pointer strode to the front for Patrick Mullins a quarter of a mile from home but was given a stern examination by the well-backed Bakmaj and had to find plenty to contain the latter’s effort by two and a half lengths.

“He had been pleasing us at home. We will go down the winners’ bumper route with him and see if he’s good enough to go across the water in the spring,” stated Mullins.

MCMANUS VICTORY

The McManus colours were also carried to victory by the heavily backed Thirsty Work in the Irish Daily Star Christmas Novice Handicap Hurdle.

On his third outing in handicaps, Jessica Harrington’s charge was backed from as big as 14/1 in the morning into 6/1 and he produced a tenacious effort after finding himself in front shortly after the second last. The Robbie Power-ridden son of Robin Des Champs was strongly pressed by Tudor City at the last but he found plenty for pressure to carry the day by a length and three-quarters.

“He never got into a rhythm at Punchestown the last day but he jumped much better today. He’ll go for a similar handicap next time,” reported Harrington.

Acting Stewards

T. Hunt, L. McFerran, N. O’Byrne, R. Ryan, P.D. Matthews

Horse To Follow

CHARLIE STOUT (S. Nolan): This recent Thurles winner ran with credit to take third behind Thirsty Work in what could turn out to be quite a hot handicap. He should certainly be winning more races in the coming months.