THE race of the day served up a finish to match as the classy Beacon Edge nailed Fury Road in the dying strides of the Ladbrokes Boyne Hurdle to prompt thoughts of a trip across the water to Cheltenham or Aintree.

A fourth winner of the race this century for Noel Meade and his fifth in all, Beacon Edge was looking to bounce back from a somewhat disappointing effort when third to Bachasson at Naas last month. A close third earlier to Honeysuckle in the Hatton’s Grace, bore close inspection here, partnered by Sean Flanagan. Fellow Gigginstown House Stud-owned runner Fury Road attempted to make all and produced some fine jumps, notably when he flew the last, but he could never shake off a tenacious Beacon Edge who gave his all to force his way to the front in the final yards.

“He had a colic at Christmas and spent nearly a week at the vets’. He just wasn’t himself in Naas last time, but he’s a fair horse. Michael (O’Leary) was thinking of the Aintree Hurdle for him and he’s in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham so we’ll see what we decide on.”

The dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll shaped fine until the turn-in but he was left behind as the race began in earnest and finished a remote sixth. However, he remains on course for Cheltenham.

“Keith said he travelled well to the third last but that he got very tired on ground he hated,” stated Elliott, who indicated Fury Road would stay at home for a Grade 2 over a similar trip at Fairyhouse over Easter.

Brave Fairy

A tremendously brave effort was rewarded in the first edition of the Listed Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle where Atlantic Fairy (11/4) struck for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore.

On the extremely testing going, this Mark Phelan-owned daughter of Jeremy produced an enthusiastic and willing effort from the front. The seven-year-old made a couple of mistakes but these never halted her gallop, which was a strong one given the ground, and she turned away several menacing challenges in the straight finish one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Global Equity.

“I’m delighted for Mark. She’s a lovely mare who is making up for the time she lost due to injury last season,” declared the trainer. “She is entered in a few races at Cheltenham and I’ll see what Mark wants to do but possibly we might lean towards the Grade 1 mares’ novice hurdle at Fairyhouse over Easter.”

Gibney strikes

Alko Rouge added further lustre to Tom Gibney’s best season to date with a nice display from the front in the maiden hurdle over two miles. As he looked to build on a decent third to Flanking Maneuver at Fairyhouse last month, the seven-year-old made all for Darragh O’Keeffe and always seemed to be holding Coqolino who went down by just under four lengths. The winner carries the colours of the WTF Partnership.

“He’s a very big horse and we really like him. If size has anything to do with things he’ll make a lovely chaser and everything before then will be a bonus,” remarked Gibney.

In-form Elliott takes four-timer

COKO Beach followed up his Thyestes Chase heroics with a hard-fought success in the Ladbrokes Watching Racing Online For Free Ten Up Novice Chase which kicked off a Gordon Elliott four-timer. In truth the Gigginstown House Stud-owned grey had to work much harder for victory in this three-mile Grade 2 then he did at Gowran Park last month as the conditions made this a fairly exacting test.

Coko Beach also had to contend with Espanito Bello, who beat him in beginners’ chase a few months ago and that challenger appeared to hold the upper hand coming to the last.

A mistake there cost him valuable momentum whereas Jack Kennedy’s mount produced a fluent jump which enabled the 5/4 favourite to get home by four lengths.

“Jack just felt that a bigger field suits him better and that he can get a bit idle in races like this. He needed that good jump at the last but in fairness to the horse he delivered,” stated Elliott. “I’d say we might keep him at home rather than go to Cheltenham and aim him at the Irish National.”

Gigginstown treble

The Elliott-trained Frontal Assault made it a graded treble on the day for Gigginstown House Stud in the Surehaul Mercedes-Benz Novice Hurdle over three miles. This Grade 3 event, which was switched from Clonmel’s abandoned fixture last Thursday, was another dour affair.

The odds-on Minella Escape fell at the second last when holding every chance and this left the Kennedy-ridden Frontal Assault doing battle with Angels Dawn and in a slow motion finish the Presenting six-year-old prevailed by three-quarters of a length.

“He was much too keen in blinkers in a handicap at Leopardstown a few weeks ago. He’s a very tough horse who stays well and will make a grand staying chaser,” stated Elliott. “We’ll look at the Martin Pipe for him.”

Gainford success

The trainer then supplied jockey Jordan Gainford with his first winner as a professional rider when Fierami struck at 25/1 in the Ladbrokes-sponsored 80-102 rated handicap hurdle over just short of two and three-quarter miles.

Wexford-born Gainford, who had notched up four winners as an amateur, made much of the running on the James Power-owned son of Network who kept the strong travelling duo Westy Fox and Castle Town House at bay in the closing stages. “Jordan’s a good rider who is with me three days a week and we’ll be using him plenty. The step-up in trip from two miles was probably the key to this horse today,” commented Elliott.

The four-timer was completed by the high profile point-to-point recruit Ginto (5/6) who atoned for an odds-on defeat on his debut at Fairyhouse last month.

There was a point with just over two furlongs to run where it looked as though this Noel and Valerie Moran-owned gelding was going to have to work hard for this success. To his credit, though his last furlong was a strong one and he finished with eight lengths to spare over Shantreusse.

“He’s not really a bumper horse and you’ll see a different horse when he goes jumping next season. I think he’s a horse with a future,” said the trainer.

Epic ride by Morgan

A RIDE of truly epic proportions doesn’t even begin to describe Hugh Morgan’s winning effort on Young Dev in the three-mile handicap chase, Morgan somehow stayed in the race and, even more miraculously, managed to win after his right stirrup iron broke jumping the first fence. He was forced to kick his left foot out of his other iron and ride the remainder of the race without stirrups.

Had he pulled up at any stage, Morgan would have been justified but he elected to stay in the race and the miracle result was on.

The Denis Hogan-trained and Liam Mulryan-owned Young Dev (17/2) put in an assured round of jumping and after striking the front before the last he produced one more solid jump for Morgan at the final fence to pull off an amazing victory.

Morgan commented: “I didn’t really think about pulling up because I felt comfortable and he’s a safe jumper.”