AT Naas before Christmas, Inthepocket (136+) confirmed the favourable impression he created on his debut at Wexford as he stepped up to Grade 2 class and trip in the style of a horse destined for a Grade 1 assignment on his next outing.

Rachael Blackmore kept the Cullentra stable companions, Absolute Notions (132) and Three Card Brag (136+), in her sights as her mount aligned travelling strongly with being the most fluent of the field at his hurdles. The eventual winning margin of a neck likely flattered Three Card Brag as he benefitted from the removal of the hurdles in the home straight having been left behind when the winner quickened passing the omitted second last flight.

The time figure recorded by Henry De Bromhead’s gelding was not the same level as at Wexford, although a final circuit time which was 3.9secs the quickest on the card indicates the five-year-old could have run a much faster overall time if required.

The Ballymore Hurdle rather than the Supreme Novices’ would look the more likely Cheltenham Festival target, with the Lawlor’s Of Naas possibly next on the agenda.

Three Card Brag looks every inch a stayer and, while there is room for improvement in the hurdling department, his stamina at three miles looks assured, so the five-year-old would appeal as an Albert Bartlett candidate.

Future

The intriguing comparison on the card with an eye on the future was the performance of Impaire Et Passe (128+), who is shorter in the ante-post market for the Ballymore Hurdle than Inthepocket after making light work of the testing conditions to win the maiden hurdle.

Paul Townend asked his mount to stride on from the final flight, normally the third last, from which point the four-year-old completed his race in 63.5secs. In comparison J.P. McManus’ Grade 2 winner covered the same ground in 63.8secs.

The way Impaire Et Passe travelled through his race suggests he would have coped with a stronger pace, making it entirely possible he could have made up the difference on the final circuit and overall time with Inthepocket.

The clash between Halka Du Tabert (132) and Ebha Grace (121) also produced a good time figure, rating the same as Inthepocket when adjusted for distance.

The pair were no match for either the Grade 2 winner or Impaire Et Passe through the final circuit or closing stages, however, despite the final circuit being 6.8secs and 2.9secs slower respectively, the winner looks sure to stay beyond two miles and cope with a step up in grade.

Journey With Me (126) picked up the pieces from Flame Bearer (113) in the beginners’ chase that opened the card although, despite the winning distance being sizeable, the time figure was disappointing. This was confirmed by the final circuit being just 0.2secs quicker than clocked by Know The Game (105) who was quickest from the third-last fence even when making an allowance for him bypassing obstacles.

No formality

El Fabiolo (155) headlined the Fairyhouse card the following day, December 21st, as he made a successful chase debut to remind connections of Jonbon the Arkle is no formality for the short-priced favourite.

Victory was achieved in effortless fashion in a time figure which exceeded his achievements over hurdles, a best he recorded when narrowly beaten by the Arkle favourite at Aintree.

The final circuit time was 2.2secs quicker than Big Debates (132), although that could have been greater judged on the splits from the fourth last, which saw Robert Tyner’s gelding close off 0.5secs quicker as Paul Townend geared down the five-year-old.

Ha D’Or (140) completed a chase double for Townend and Mullins, and while no match for El Fabiolo his time figure eclipsed the effort of Big Debates. The Rich Ricci-owned five-year-old would have confirmed his superiority over Big Debates on the circuit if asked to race to the line rather than being eased. As a result, the handicap winner held sway through the closing stages and was 1.7secs quicker.