SIZING John served notice that he could have some big days ahead of him in the spring as he bested Sub Lieutenant in a cracking edition of the Ladbrokes Ireland Kinloch Brae Chase.

Jessica Harrington’s charge had the misfortune to come up short against Douvan on seven occasions over the last two seasons but this second try at two and a half miles has opened up a new vista for the seven-year-old. This includes Cheltenham’s Ryanair Chase and that could well be the preferred target for the Alan and Ann Potts-owned gelding who was winning his first race since November 2015.

Despite being won last year by the subsequent Gold Cup hero Don Cossack, the Kinloch Brae was downgraded to Grade 3 status but it attracted a quality line up. Smashing set a searing pace before giving best to Sub Lieutenant. The latter turned for home going nicely but poised menacingly in his slipstream was the Robbie Power-ridden Sizing John (3/1).

With the last fence bypassed, a lengthy run-in ensued and Sizing John was the strongest. He got on top in the closing stages to win by two and a half lengths. There was a further dozen lengths back to last season’s Cheltenham scorer Black Hercules.

“He was very relaxed over that trip. Robbie felt he was always going to pick up from the second last and the horse picked up very well for him,” said Harrington. “I’ll speak to Alan and Ann. He’s entered in the Stan James Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown and there is the Red Mills Chase a week later. He’s entered in everything at Cheltenham (Queen Mother and Gold Cup included) but looking at that the Ryanair could be the best option. We’ll see though.”

The tremendously prolific Westerner Lady secured the most valuable event on the card and made it eight wins from her last nine starts in the Grade 2 Champs Elysees Coolmore National Hunt Sires EBF Mares Novice Chase. The concluding leg of a double for Willie Mullins, the Anthony Butler-owned and bred daughter of Westerner was returned the 4/6 favourite but she had to work hard for this success.

Westerner Lady had to give her all to get on terms with the front-running Keppols Queen but she took off marginally in front at the final fence where the latter crashed out. This paved the way for the market leader to defeat stablemate Daisy’s Gift by two and a half lengths.

“She’s been a fantastic servant for us, we never thought she’d do as much as she has. I think we’ll stick to mares’ novice chases with her,” stated Mullins. “Daisy’s Gift ran well. I think the cheek pieces helped her as she’s previously had a couple of falls.”

SHORT PRICE

Earlier, the Mullins-trained Al Boum Photo had little trouble justifying his position as the shortest priced favourite of the day in the second division of the maiden hurdle. The 1/3 shot, who took third behind Minella Till Dawn on his Irish debut last month, made the running for Ruby Walsh and lengthened away from stablemate Caro Des Flos after two out. The Marie Donnelly-owned five-year-old finished with eight and a half lengths to spare.

“Both he and the runner-up would want further and maybe the Michael Purcell Novice Hurdle back here next month would look a logical race for the winner,” commented Mullins. “He’ll probably get entries in the Neptune and Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham.”

The Storyteller looks ready for a step up to a higher level of competition following a dominant victory in the W.T. O’Grady Memorial EBF Novice Hurdle. The Patricia Sloan-owned son of Shantou was stepping up in class from last month’s Down Royal maiden success and he came through this assignment in style.

Jack Kennedy produced the 5/2 chance to tackle Battleford off the last turn and The Storyteller didn’t take long to assert, eventually coming home with nine lengths to spare.

“He’s a grand horse who stays well. I’d say this track mightn’t have been ideal and more of a galloping track would probably suit better,” observed Gordon Elliott. “He could well end up in Cheltenham but whether we stick to novice races or move into handicaps I’m not sure.”

SLOAN DOUBLE

Elliott and Mrs Sloan then made it a double as Realt Mor sprang a 25/1 surprise in the two and a half miles Matty Ryan Memorial Handicap Hurdle. The 2013 Powers Gold Cup winner was reeling off his third win of the season under a masterful waiting ride from Keith Donoghue.

The 12-year-old bided his time off a strong early pace but he scythed through the pack over the final mile and only needed to be pushed along to hand out a near five-length beating to Inch Rise.

“He wasn’t a bad horse in his day. Sometimes he can run away with you but they went fast up front which suited well. He’ll mix it between hurdles and fences,” remarked Elliott.

The former Leopardstown Chase victor Foxrock (4/6) bagged the Arctic Tack Stud Hunters Chase to make it two wins from as many starts in this sphere. Foxrock bowled along in front for Katie Walsh and first saw off First Lieutenant before then containing the 2014 Gold Cup runner-up On His Own by two lengths.

“He did what you’d expect if he ran to his mark. The plan now would be the hunter chase at Leopardstown next month and then there is the Tetratema at Gowran,” declared Ted Walsh, who trains the winner for Barry Connell. “He’ll get entries in the English and Irish Nationals after that, he’s not eligible for the Foxhunter at Cheltenham.”

A mixed day for favourite backers began with a reversal for the odds-on Timi Roli who was third behind Surf Instructor (100/30) in the first division of the two-mile maiden hurdle. A 50/1 chance when beaten a head by Coquin Mans at Limerick over Christmas, the Dylan Robinson-ridden winner struck the front the run to the last flight and produced a bold jump there just as Timi Roli attempted to get on terms. Surf Instructor then bounded home to finish three lengths clear of Icario who secured second on the line.

“I thought he was in trouble coming down the hill but he stayed on really well when he met the rising ground. We’ll look for a novice hurdle next but he’s a real chasing type,” reported Henry de Bromhead. “He’s the first winner we’ve had for Julian Taylor, who bought a couple of horses with us last year.”

An exhibition of jumping from Winter Magic (6/1) enabled him to shrug off top-weight in the near two and three-quarter-mile handicap chase. Davy Russell’s mount never missed a beat and was always doing enough in the straight to fend off Cappacurry Zak who went down by two and three-quarter lengths.

“Davy felt the better ground was a big help to him. We’ll take it step by step with him but he could get an entry in the Irish National,” stated Mangan.