FORGE Meadow further bolstered Jessica Harrington’s formidable Cheltenham team with an impressive disposal of her opponents in the Grade 2 Paddy Power Onside App Novice Hurdle.

The talented mare was pitched in against the highly promising Any Second Now, among others, but she came through this assignment with her best effort to date. This success has earned the daughter of Beneficial an entry in the Dawn Run Mares Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham for which she now looks a major player.

When Labaik all but refused to jump off the field for the race was reduced to six and the strong-travelling Forge Meadow was full of running turning for home. Shortly afterwards Any Second Now appeared to be struggling and then Forge Meadow was left in the lead when Pravalaguna crashed out at the second last. Once Robbie Power asked the five-year-old to assert she shot clear en route to a commanding eight-length defeat of Joey Sasa.

“She was just unlucky in the Royal Bond and the last day (second to Shattered Love) she got too far out of it,” said Harrington of the Joseph Doyle-owned mare. “Robbie said that she was cantering away at all stages. Two miles is her trip and I think she will be better on better ground.”

VALUABLE WIN

It was a lucrative afternoon for Robbie Power who also stepped in for the injured Barry Geraghty to land the day’s most valuable event on Edwulf.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge has been blighted by jumping frailties but he showed just what he can do in shrugging aside top-weight in the Woodlands 100 Club Nas Na Riogh Novice Handicap Chase.

The Cheltenham entrant faced no easy task as he looked to defy a rating of 145 but his authority was such that he could have triumphed off an appreciably higher rating. The 11/2 chance turned in a most assured round of jumping throughout this two and a half-mile event and had still to come off the bridle when he improved to dispute the lead nearing the second last.

The J.P. McManus-owned gelding readily brushed aside Space Cadet to finish with eight lengths to spare.

“He got a great ride from Robbie and he jumped very well, I’m delighted with him,” stated O’Brien. “We’ve always thought he was a good horse but his jumping has let him down. Hopefully he can keep it together now. He’s in the four-mile and the RSA at Cheltenham, while he does have the option of the Leinster National here in a couple of weeks.”

The freewheeling Alisier D’Irlande headed a double for Henry de Bromhead and David Mullins as he came back to form to make all in the Paddy Power-sponsored Grade 3 two-mile chase.

The Roger Brookhouse-owned gelding hadn’t been at his best this season but testing ground and being left alone up front suited him ideally. The 5/2 joint favourite had established a good lead over his rivals before he reached the straight and, even though he did tire late on, he still got to the line 10 lengths ahead of Pairofbrowneyes.

“He’d keep you on the edge of your seat but he loves that ground and he’s able to go a relentless gallop on it, albeit he was tiring late on today,” remarked the trainer. “Before he ran at Christmas I said to Roger that this was the race for him. Given he likes the ground this way we might look at options in France for him.”

HAT-TRICK

Earlier, de Bromhead and Mullins struck with the hat-trick chasing Adreamstillalive (4/1) in the Paddy Power Betting Shops Handicap Hurdle.

Prior to Christmas, the eight-year-old was beaten in a Tramore handicap off a mark of 90 but her subsequent improvement meant that she lined up here off a 17lb higher rating. The frontrunner dived at the last, which gave the chasing Lilshane a big chance, but David Mullins had every confidence in his mount. He never resorted to the whip and Adreamstillalive scored by a head.

“She got a great ride from David, who was pretty cool. He said that she just swished her tail the last day which is why he didn’t go for his stick after the last,” reported de Bromhead, who trains the mare for the One For Luck Racing Syndicate.

“Next season she will be a lovely mare to go chasing with, but in terms of the rest of the season, I’ll talk to the owners and then make plans.”

ELLIOTT DOUBLE

Gordon Elliott also reeled off two winners and his Monbeg Worldwide stayed unbeaten in the Paddy Power Track My Bet (Pro/Am) Flat Race. The Gigginstown-owned gelding faced just four rivals in his quest for a third bumper triumph and was returned a 4/11 chance under Lisa O’Neill. Without having to be asked for everything, the Lucarno gelding picked up to reasonable effect nearing the last couple of furlongs and he first saw off Balkalin.

The four-year-old Scheu Time finished out his race with some purpose but the successful jockey always seemed happy that her mount would contain that one’s charge and Monbeg Worldwide got home by a neck.

“He’s a lovely, big horse and I wouldn’t have thought that he will run again this season,” stated Elliott. “He will be a lovely horse to go jumping with and I thought that Lisa gave him a good ride.”

The double began when Morgan (5/1) bounced back from a disappointing effort at Clonmel in early December in the Paddy Power-sponsored maiden hurdle. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding made his way to the front early on, having been keen to get on with things, and produced an assured round of jumping for Bryan Cooper.

Morgan took several lengths out of the field after two out and this enabled him to overcome a last flight blunder to defeat the favourite Kolumbus by a length and a half. Drumconnor Lad was running a nice race and held second when he departed at the last.

“We’ve no big plans for him but he’s one that we’ll keep on the go for the summer,” commented Elliott.

A step up to three miles and the testing ground enabled Eoghan O’Grady’s Mick The Jiver (7/1) to dominate the staying handicap chase. The grey pecked on landing at the second last, having cruised into contention, but he was soon back on an even keel for David Splaine.

After jumping the last in company with Cappacurry Zak, he powered away to pull 11 lengths clear. The grey is owned by the trainer’s father, Arthur.

ACTING STEWARDS

N. O’Byrne, M.C. Hickey, P. Caffrey, P.D. Matthews.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

NEVER OFF DUTY (R. Tyner): This winning pointer made a bright start to his career on the track with a third to Morgan in the maiden hurdle. He will be able to progress well from this and shouldn’t be long in registering his first success.