THE victory was Cracking Smart’s but the day belonged to stablemate Tiger Roll whose comeback fifth in the Grade 2 Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle represented a hugely encouraging first step on the road to his bid for an unprecedented third straight Grand National.

“He’s finished fifth but to be honest it’s as good as winning,” was a delighted Gordon Elliott’s immediate reaction.

Beforehand the trainer had stressed that Tiger Roll would badly need this first run since Aintree last year and not even the diminutive gelding’s most ardent supporters – many of whom braved the decidedly grim weather – could have envisaged a performance like this.

Tiger Roll raced with his customary zest at the back of the field and turning for home a fairytale comeback looked to be on before his lack of fitness told from the second last. He was eventually beaten just over 14 lengths into fifth but this represented a huge effort from the 10-year-old.

His stablemate and fellow Gigginstown-owned runner Cracking Smart somehow rediscovered the form that made him a high-class novice hurdler two seasons ago to spring a 16/1 surprise and give the trainer a fourth straight win in this race.

Davy Russell’s mount surged into a clear lead after two out to defeat the former Stayers’ Hurdle victor Penhill by four lengths.

Delighted

“I’m delighted with Tiger Roll and Keith (Donoghue) was delighted too. He said he pulled his arms out the whole way and that he thought he’d win turning in before he blew up from the second last,” said Elliott. “I couldn’t have asked for better and he wouldn’t like this ground either. We’ll get him ready for Cheltenham now and in the next week or two I’ll bring him over to Cheltenham and let him have a pop around and then we’ll bring him for a racecourse gallop somewhere which should leave him right.”

As for Cracking Smart the eight-year-old could also be Cheltenham bound for one of the handicaps after taking the trainer by surprise.

“He was a good horse but just lost his way totally. It’s great to see him back and maybe that testing ground made all the difference to him. He might go for the Coral Cup,” added the trainer.

Elliott and Russell also combined to land the Kevin Brady Car Sales Mares Handicap Hurdle with a back to form Sassy Yet Classy. The 8/1 chance was left in the lead when Regina Dracones departed two out and she kept on resolutely to see off Bay Ambition by two and three-quarter lengths. The trainer felt that the heavy ground brought out the best in the six-year-old who is owned by the Kerry-based A P Partnership.

Brave Captain Cj pulls rank for McLoughlin

CHELTENHAM is not on the agenda for Captain Cj but Dermot McLoughlin’s charge could have this season’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National in his sights after breaking his maiden over fences in the Grade 2 Ten Up Novice Chase.

After a succession of good efforts in high-class beginners’ events, the most recent of which yielded a second to Minella Indo, Captain Cj (100/30) was a more than credible contender for this prize.

Conor Maxwell’s mount might have struggled a little to jump out of the ground at times but this couldn’t prevent him from registering a clear-cut six-length success over Elwood.

“Conor felt he struggled a bit to jump out of the ground but he was making up any ground he lost on the flat. I’d love to run him in the Irish Grand National and this was a great pot to pick up on the way,” reported McLoughlin whose charge is owned by Fidelma Toole.

The day concluded with an intriguing bumper where the high-profile point-to-point recruit Ballyadam was a 1/4 chance to give Gordon Elliott a treble. However, he had to settle for third behind an ultra-game Julies Stowaway - previously a dual runner-up - who made the running for Patrick Mullins and fought back splendidly from losing the lead to Delvino to prevail by a length and a half. There was a further gap of three-quarters of a length back to Ballyadam.

“He’s a very good horse who got a lovely ride from Patrick. We’ll see how he comes out of this but he maybe he could get an entry for the bumper at Cheltenham,” reflected Margaret Mullins who trains the winner for Michael O’Callaghan.

The Willie Mullins-trained Francin became the latest winner to emerge from the red-hot maiden won by Cobbler’s Way at Leopardstown over Christmas as he took advantage of a good opportunity in the second divsion of the two-mile maiden hurdle.

The Susannah Ricci-owned gelding made a mistake at the last which meant that he had to work somewhat late on, but Paul Townend’s mount had more to spare than the winning margin of three and a half lengths over The Very Man would suggest. He can progress further this season.

First at last as Jungle in control

AFTER a run of four second-place finishes, Jessica Harrington’s Jungle Junction (11/8) got his turn in the first division of the maiden hurdle. Robbie Power’s mount seized upon a last flight error by Priests Leap to take control and he went on to defeat his rallying rival by a length and a quarter for Olivia Frost. The victory of Jungle Junction was a particularly poignant one as he was originally bought by Harry Fowler and Kevin Ross for the late Gina Galvin and her son-in-law Alex Frost. Sadly Gina Galvin passed away before she saw Jungle Junction race.

Double triumph for McMahon

IT was an afternoon to savour for trainer Brian McMahon who notched up the first double of his career which helped him to his best seasonal tally just under six years after he sent out his first winner.

McMahon, who has eight horses under his care, made it four winners for the campaign with this brace which began when the 14-year-old Seskinane and Philip Enright landed the navanadventurecentre.ie Handicap Hurdle over just short of three miles. The 14/1 chance recorded a snug season over the top-weight, Flooring Porter.

“He’s been a super horse for me, some stalwart. He’s the reason I started training and at home he’s like the foreman in the yard,” stated a delighted McMahon.

The day was to get even better for the trainer as Se Mo Laoch (9/1) defied top weight in the three-mile handicap chase to reward jockey Eoin Mahon’s dash from a point-to-point at Nenagh earlier in the afternoon where he also rode a winner.

The reliable nine-year-old overhauled the game front-runner Wishmoor after the last and will now be aimed at the Kim Muir at Cheltenham. Se Mo Laoch is owned by the Coalbrook Racing Syndicate.