DINARIA Des Obeaux completed a Thurles four-timer for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud in the Grade 2 Coolmore National Hunt Sires Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase.

The five-year-old had come up short in a couple of Grade 1s but was much more suited to this test back against her own sex, and travelled in second behind pacesetter Magic Of Light.

Youcantcallherthat was hot on their heels when getting the second-last all wrong, effectively ending her challenge, and while 11/10 favourite Dinaria Des Obeaux could herself have been better when jumping the final obstacle in a slight lead, she was kept up to her work by Jack Kennedy – who was completing a treble – and passed the post eight lengths to the good over Magic Of Light.

Elliott said: "She was entitled to do that on her Drinmore run and forget about her last run, as she made a few mistakes and was nearly brought down.

"She won't be going to Cheltenham and I don't think we have to keep her in her own sex – never say never, but we'll see as we have a couple of nice mares at the moment. She is a nice mare and has her job done now."

Elliott also struck on the card with the Kennedy-ridden A Toi Phil and Pete So High, as well as Dortmund Park, who impressed under Davy Russell, all in the maroon and white of Gigginstown.

A Toi Phil (6/4) stamped his class on the Grade 3 Horse & Jockey Hotel Kinloch Brae Chase.

American Tom took the field along, with the remaining trio racing together for the first circuit, and Arctic Skipper was the first to crack.

American Tom made a mistake five out, allowing A Toi Phil and Woodland Opera to close the gap, and the leader was not fluent at the third-last either.

Woodland Opera began to toil but A Toi Phil was still travelling strongly and hit the front between the final two obstacles before coming nine and a half lengths clear of American Tom.

Elliott said: "In his own grade, he is brilliant and won't let you down and Jack gave him a great ride again today. It's been a good day."

Dortmund Park turned the W.T. O'Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle into a procession.

Bought from France for €230,000 last summer, the five-year-old struggled on his first start for Gordon Elliott before triumphing at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day.

Clearly at home in testing conditions, the 12/1 chance was ridden with patience by Davy Russell, who made stealthy headway from the rear to hit the front at the penultimate obstacle, and Dortmund Park stormed away to cross the line with 16 lengths in hand.

Burrows Saint plugged on to win the battle for second, just ahead of Discorama, but favourite Articulum was beaten a long way out.

Elliott, who also won the opener with Pete So High, said: "I said before the race I couldn't believe what price he was and he's a nice horse."

Asked about a potential tilt at the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, the trainer said: "There are plenty of races to be won in Ireland and we can't send them all to Cheltenham, but we'll see.

"He could be as he is a smart horse and wouldn't be out of place in a graded race. I think a bit of him and coming here today, the ground was actually a worry for him."

Pete So High could join Elliott's Cheltenham Festival team after running out a clear-cut winner of the www.thurlesraces.ie Maiden Hurdle.

Since arriving in Ireland from Richard Hannon's yard, the four-year-old has performed with plenty of credit in warm maiden hurdles, most recently when fourth behind Mr Adjudicator at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival.

Hot favourite Jetez faded quickly down the back, with his main market rival Saglawy at the head of affairs, but Pete So High (7/1) took it up at the second-last and kept going in the wet conditions to account for Last Man Standing by five lengths.

Elliott said: "It wasn't the strongest race in the world and he just about handled the conditions. Jack (Kennedy) said he wasn't in love with it but whatever handles it best wins today.

"He has got his head in front now and we'll see but he could be a Fred Winter-type horse."

DELIGHTED

Adrian and Finny Maguire combined to land the Matty Ryan Memorial Handicap Hurdle with Knockraha Pylon.

Two of the mare's previous three victories had come at this venue but she arrived on the back of a lacklustre display when pulled up at Cork a couple of weeks ago.

Much happier back at Thurles, the 10/1 chance set sail for home on the long run to two out and although Shower Cross and Miracle In Medinah attempted to give chase, Knockraha Pylon never looked like being caught and inflicted a two-and-three-quarter-length defeat on Shower Cross.

The winning trainer said: "One (winner) is like 10 and it's a great day. I'm delighted for the O'Donoghue brothers, Joker and Benji, as they are great supporters of mine and it's great to repay them with a winner. It's even more special when Finny rides them and it's fantastic.

"She had a wind operation before Christmas but, for whatever reason, she has taken a couple of runs confidence-wise. We'll look for something again in three or four weeks."

Regarding son Finny, Maguire added: "He has one year left in college and he seems to be getting more and more keen about turning professional. It's not something I'd push him into but we'll leave it up to him. If he wanted to, I'd have to support him 100%.

"To be fair, he keeps a handle on his weight and eats healthily. He is a big lad but does well with his weight and is doing Food Science in college."

DRAMATIC

Kopookris was a most fortunate winner of a dramatic Exit 6 To Horse & Jockey Handicap Chase.

Teacher's Pet and Positive Approach had it between them at the final obstacle, only to both crash out independently.

The Liam Cusack-trained Kopookris (7/1), who was stepping outside of beginners' company for the first time, seized the initiative, finishing best of all under Denis O'Regan to account for Fire In His Eyes by a length and a half.

Cusack said: "He got a bit lucky I suppose but, to be honest, I wasn't sure if he'd handle the ground and was in two minds whether to run him this morning.

"It was his first run in a handicap and I let him take his chance. When I looked down through it, it didn't look a wonderful race and I thought he had a nice enough mark.

"He's a fine horse but is a big baby and frets a bit so the more match-practice he gets, the better he'll be."

HUNTER CHASE

Gilgamboa looks a force to be reckoned with in the hunter chase division judging by his victory in the Arctic Tack Stud Hunters Chase.

A Grade 1 winner in his pomp, as well as finishing fourth in the 2016 Grand National, Enda Bolger's 10-year-old competes at a lower level these days and arrived on the back of a defeat of the reopposing Venitien De Mai at Down Royal over Christmas.

A slick leap three out carried the 6/4 favourite to the front, although long-time leader My Murphy soon regained the initiative and last year's winner Foxrock also made his presence felt in the gruelling conditions.

Gilgamboa and Foxrock approached the final fence with it between them but Nina Carberry conjured a better jump out of Gilgamboa and he had more petrol in the tank than Foxrock, who faded and only just held the rallying My Murphy for second, 10 lengths adrift of the winner.

Bolger said: "It has been a credit to everyone to keep the show on the road today and that's his ground, as he suffers with his knees.

"He's not qualified for Cheltenham and could run in the Tetratema next and then the Joseph O'Reilly Chase, so we'll keep him on the home-front this season.

"Things were a bit messy early on, but it was grand to win another one with him and it's great to have Nina back riding over fences, too.

"Ground might be an issue with him going back to Aintree as that's his ground and we'd like to have him around for another couple of years."