AS expected, Petit Mouchoir was the day’s star turn as he produced a typically dashing display in the Coral.ie Bet & Watch Irish And UK Racing Live Beginners Chase on a card when six out of the seven favourites obliged.

On his first outing since finishing third in last season’s Champion Hurdle, the Henry de Bromhead-trained six-year-old showed a great appetite for the demands of chasing and he couldn’t have been any more clinical. A trademark front-running display that was characterised by some superb jumping points to this Gigginstown House Stud-owned going a long way over fences this season.

Davy Russell enjoyed the most straight forward of passages aboard the free-flowing grey who never came off the bridle. Last season’s smart novice hurdler Brelade gave chase throughout but Petit Mouchoir (8/13) was in control at all stages and he deftly fiddled the last for a smooth seven-length success.

“I’m delighted with how he jumped and he got a super ride from Davy. That was what you’d be hoping that he would go out and do,” said de Bromhead. “He’s been schooling very well but you are always anxious until you see them do it on the track. Maybe a race like the Grade 2 Craddockstown Novice Chase back here next month would suit but I’ll speak to everybody first and then we’ll see.”

At long last Campeador, who had endured more than his share of misfortune since coming to Ireland, registered his first success for Gordon Elliott in the Coral.ie-sponsored conditions hurdle. The supremely talented grey fell at the last when sure to win a €100,000 handicap at Fairyhouse on his most recent outing last December and he also endured final flight misfortune when holding every chance in the 2016 Fred Winter at Cheltenham.

Thus a clear round was of paramount importance for Campeador and the J.P. McManus-owned gelding duly turned in a blemish free round for Barry Geraghty. The 11/8 chance was travelling ominously well in third turning for home and never came under especially strong pressure on the run in for a length and three-quarters victory over Wakea. It will be fascinating to see what direction the winner takes as there is no doubt that a major prize lies within his reach.

“He’s going to have to improve a lot if he’s to run in some of those good hurdles,” reflected Elliott. “He’s a nice horse though and he has a big engine so we’ll just see how he comes out this. It was nice to see him do that.”

Elliott then introduced a very smart staying novice hurdler for the months ahead in Cracking Smart who secured the Coral.ie Bet €5 Get €20 in Free Bets Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles. The 4/7 shot, who was a wide-margin winner of a Fairyhouse bumper last Easter, had the benefit of a previous run over hurdles to his name and he put that good use.

He turned in a fluent round of jumping for Jack Kennedy and he produced a particularly quick leap at the last flight which enabled him to take the measure of the challenging Shady Operator. At the line, the Gigginstown-owned five-year-old had four lengths to spare, with the former Cheltenham hero Silver Concorde filling third.

“He’s a nice horse and is really a chasing type but he’ll hopefully have a good season ahead of him over hurdles,” stated Elliott.

As well as striking with Campeador, J.P. McManus and Barry Geraghty were successful with Espoir D’Allen who made a successful debut over timber in the Coral-sponsored juvenile hurdle. Gavin Cromwell’s charge won his only flat start at Lignieres in France in April which meant that he was the 11/10 favourite for his Irish debut.

The son of Voix Du Nord took a little time to warm to his task but he cruised to the front nearing the turn-in and had plenty to spare in defeating previous winner Masterstonemason by four and a quarter lengths.

“He’s a grand horse. He’s not the biggest but he jumps brilliantly and he has a fair engine. We’ll take our time with him before deciding where to go next,” remarked Cromwell.

He took 16 attempts to get off the mark over fences but A Sizing Network made it back to back triumphs in the Coral.ie Download The App Handicap Chase over two and three-quarter miles. The top-weight set off in front and, in contrast to a number of his opponents, he produced a clean round of jumping for Robbie Power. The 11/4 favourite had this race in safe keeping from the second last and he finished with nine and a half lengths to spare over Static Jack.

“He’s getting the hang of winning and he jumped brilliantly. He’s not a real heavy ground horse but we’ll see,” reflected Jessica Harrington, who trains the seven-year-old for Alan and Ann Potts Limited.

“Robbie said that we should try and get him into the Topham at Aintree next year and he might go to one of the upcoming meetings at Cheltenham or Aintree next.”

A deserved success came the way of Martin Brassil’s Artic Pearl in the Coral.ie Exclusive Blogs by Tom Scudamore Handicap Hurdle. This gelding looked a likely winner at Fairyhouse earlier in the month only for his saddle to slip before the last which led to Roger Loughran being unseated, but much better fortune awaited the pair here.

The 5/2 market leader moved ahead nearing the last flight of this 80-102 rated event and he contained Nobody Home on the run in to succeed by three lengths.

“He was a bit unlucky the last day and even though he was three pounds higher I was hopeful he might still win – the concern was whether this race came a bit quick after Fairyhouse,” declared Brassil of the Jane Dwyer-owned six-year-old. “He likes nice ground but he’ll keep going for another while.”

It was a day to remember for amateur rider Sean O’Keeffe (18) who made his second ride on the track a winning one on Liz Doyle’s newcomer Cordovan Brown (8/1) in the mares’ bumper. This smart-looking daughter of Flemensfirth picked off last month’s Galway second, Florazi, early in the straight en route to a three and a half-length triumph.

“She was a little green but she with a good engine and she could go to Navan next month for the listed mares’ bumper,” reported the trainer whose charge is owned by Steven Bourke.

ACTING STEWARDS

P. Caffrey, M. Hickey, W. Flood, J. Murphy, L. Walsh.

HORSE TO FOLLOW:

SHADY OPERATOR (J.P. O’Brien): This gelding looked potentially smart when he made a winning debut in a Limerick bumper last March and there was lots to like about his reappearance second to Cracking Smart in the maiden hurdle. He should do well over hurdles.