NEVER was the uncertain nature of National Hunt racing more evident than on this card where the three Grade 2 contests produced high drama, defeat for a string of odds on shots and a series of surprise outcomes.

Two of the Grade 2s attracted just three runners and both went to the outsiders of the field while in the Ten Up Novice Chase Black Hercules looked sure to justify 4/11 favouritism only to exit at the last.

However, Willie Mullins’ enviable strength in depth served him well here as the unconsidered Measureofmydreams (12/1) picked up the pieces under Paul Townend.

Following his beginners’ chase triumph at Punchestown last month, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Measureofmydreams took a major step forward. He was in the process of running an excellent race and jumped the last in a close second when the fall of Black Hercules left him to register a five-length triumph over Noble Endeavor.

Black Hercules had jumped with typical aplomb and he looked set to win nicely as Ruby Walsh had yet to become any way animated at the time of their departure.

“That’s nice for the winner and I think he’d prefer better ground,” said Mullins. “I’ll talk to the owner about where he goes but I think he’s entitled to head for the RSA or the four-mile. I thought Pleasant Company (third) ran a nice race and he could go to the four-mile. Black Hercules was running a great race until what happened happened.”

DRAMA

There was further drama earlier where the Mullins-trained and Ruby Walsh-ridden Sambremont pulled out what had looked a distinctly unlikely victory in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase. After looking a staying type on his first two runs this season, the winner was taking a marked drop back in trip which saw him returned the 4/1 outsider of the field and his cause looked a forlorn one leaving the straight. However, it was all change in the closing stages.

Tell Us More, who had kept close to the odds on Ttebbob from the outset, eased into the lead after thee out and looked sure to score at this point. The first-named had shown a tendency to jump left throughout the race and this cost him dearly as he ran down the second last somewhat and came down on landing.

This left Ttebbob with a healthy lead but he was already a tired horse at this point and as the last fence loomed. Ruby Walsh’s mount had closed the deficit markedly and gradually got on top on the run in, forcing his way past late on.

Walsh, who was sporting the colours of the Shanakiel Racing Syndicate, reflected: “It looked like Tell Us More was going to win when he came down and then maybe the really heavy ground found out Ttebbob. The last fence was looking pretty big when I came to it but in fairness my horse kept plugging away.”

Mullins added: “We were thinking in terms of the Ryanair at Fairyhouse for Tell Us More but maybe on that showing we should consider Cheltenham. He came back with an overreach on his right fore which may explain why he was jumping to his left. The four-miler has always been the plan for Sambremont.’’

OUTSIDER

A further surprise was in store half an hour later when another outsider, Snow Falcon (11/4), bested his two rivals in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle to book his place in next month’s World Hurdle. As he looked to bounce back from a fall at Christmas the Sean Flanagan-ridden Snow Falcon had work to do on ratings but he had the benefit of race fitness on his side whereas neither Dedigout (10/11) nor Lieutenant Colonel had run since April.

In the straight Snow Falcon couldn’t find any way through on the inner but the race soon opened up nicely for him. Dedigout dropped away before the last and a good jump there from Snow Falcon set him up to succeed by two and three quarter lengths.

Meade, who trains the winner for Patricia Hunt, declared: “He’ll take his chance in the World Hurdle. He has been jumping poorly and he has an issue with his back which we’ve needed to keep under control and he jumped well there. He’s a real stayer and at some stage I would like to try him over a staying trip on the flat.’’

Automated (11/4) showed that he had made good progress from his jumping debut at Gowran Park last month to claim the two-mile maiden hurdle. The first horse that owner David Spratt has had with Gordon Elliott, the Authorized gelding came through on the inside of Alamein to make his challenge approaching the last flight. Jack Kennedy’s mount then consolidated his lead on the run in to defeat Stuccodor by half a dozen lengths. The odds on Alamein, who finished in front of the winner at Gowran Park last time, had to settle for third.

“He’s a grand horse and will be better on better ground. He might be able to win again on the flat too,” declared Elliott.

ELLIOTT AGAIN

Nickname Exit (5/1) then made it 99 winners for the season in Ireland for Elliott in the Davis Civil Engineering Handicap Hurdle over two and three quarter miles. The Gigginstown-owned gelding revelled in the testing ground to win here two months ago and similar conditions enabled him to bounce back from pulling up in the Thyestes Chase last time.

The Bryan Cooper-ridden gelding led from the third last and responded to pressure to shake off the favourite Flemenstorm before lasting home by two and a half lengths from Owennacurra Milan.

“He had his conditions again will go for another similar race. We’ll keep him busy,” declared the trainer.

FIRST WINNER

Eoin O’Connell rode his first winner since turning professional as he teamed up Admiral Brian (14/1), trained by his father Eamonn, in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. The well-backed favourite Dr Waluigi paid the price for chasing the free-wheeling leader Rich Prince as, having led from three out, his effort petered out before the last. This allowed Admiral Brian to sweep by and register an eight lengths win on his first run since June.

“My horses haven’t been right so we had to back off them and he’s my first runner since November,” reported the trainer of the Know It Alls Syndicate-owned gelding. “This horse will probably head to Wexford on St Patrick’s Day.”

A torrid day for punters did end on a bright note as Blow By Blow (2/7) – the only one of the five odds on chance on the card to prevail – landed the bumper to make it a treble for both Willie Mullins and Gigginstown. The Robin Des Champs gelding had five lengths to spare over Jett when the pair met at Punchestown two months ago and that form was replicated. The strong travelling Blow By Blow was asked to shrug aside Jett early in the last furlong and did so to score by four lengths.

“He’s improved nicely from his first run, his work at home suggested he had. We’ll look for a winners’ bumper on this side of the Irish Sea and he’s a big, chasing type,” declared the champion trainer.

Acting Stewards

T. Hunt, R. Dore, N. Colfer, P. McCarten, M.F. O’Donoghue

HORSE TO FOLLOW

POT COMMITTED (S.R.B. Crawford): This Presenting gelding shaped up quite nicely in the bumper where he was eventually beaten 18 lengths into third. A bumper success may be within his reach this season.

Whip bans

BRIAN Cooper was suspended for one day for his ride on Alamein in the maiden hurdle won by Automated, for incorrect use of the whip. Davy Russell, rider of second placed Stuccodor in the same race was also suspended for one race day.

David Mullins was suspended for one race day for his ride on Lieutenant Colonel in the Boyne Hurdle.

Lame

AUGHER Castle was found to be lame post-race having lost two front shoes in the race won by Nickname Exit.