WE were left with a field of four for the Grade 2 Kerry Group Hilly Way Chase with three non-runners in the feature at Cork and at odds of 1/5, Chacun Pour Soi beat the only other one to complete, Darasso, by 19 lengths.

So unfortunate when having to be pulled out of the Champion Chase on the morning of the race back in March, the Susannah and Rich Ricci-owned Chacun Pour Soi here showed himself to be in fine fettle on his first outing in 309 days.

Also handled by the winning trainer, Willie Mullins, Cash Back was chasing in vain when crashing out at the last, bringing Djingle down in the process. It was a big relief to see all up after this horrible incident.

On an afternoon when Closutton also had winners at Punchestown with Power Of Pause (David Mullins) and Min (Patrick Mullins), stable number one Paul Townend came to Cork for the spin on Chacun Pour Soi, and the champion jockey certainly enjoyed the experience.

“It was a great start for him. He was fairly asleep early on in the race and got a good blow into himself. He had the other two well beaten when they fell at the last and was entitled to win. Thankfully he did and it’s good to get him back on the track,” said Townend.

“Touch wood, he’s deadly (jumping-wise) – I don’t want to put the mockers on him. He’s very good. The other two have to show their hands earlier with the way they race, he just had that bit of class. He took a good blow and I think he’ll come on plenty for it. It was a joint decision between myself and Willie to come here today.”

Gordon Elliott saddled a brace, highlighted by the win of Mount Ida (5/2 favourite) in the Grade 3 Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase

Denis O’Regan rode a first winner at this level for Elliott, aboard the KTDA Racing-owned well-related daughter of Yeats. It may have been only a second chase start for Mount Ida, but she was a point-to-point winner at the beginning of her career and she was most assured in beating Scarlet And Dove by four and a half lengths.

“It is lovely to win the race and get the blacktype all in one. It’s great to get a winner for Gordon,” remarked O’Regan.

One of the market-leaders, Sapphire Lady (fifth) stopped quickly after a mistake at the fourth last according to the man aboard, Paul Townend.

At the request of the stewards, Jonathan Moore, rider of Jeremys Flame (third) explained that his mount can be very keen and wears a hood to help her settle.

Furthermore, he added that he dropped her out to get the trip and he felt he was close enough to win if she had jumped the last two fences better.

The Elliott double was initiated by Joseph Conrad (85/40 favourite) in the first division of the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle. Jon Aisbitt’s Shirocco gelding, in the hands of Keith Donoghue, easily made a winning start over flights, seeing off Viscount Gort by seven and a half lengths.

FOR Trevor Hemmings and Mick Winters, Sayce Gold (7/4) is going up through the grades at a rate of knots. She gained a third win in succession in the Grade 3 Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle.

Darragh O’Keeffe secured a first Grade 3 win, on this, his first time partnering Sayce Gold. They were always to the fore and the exciting seven-year-old asserted before two out. She made a slight mistake at the last but still headed for an easy eight-length verdict over Ragnar Lodbrok.

“We’ll have to find something for her at Christmas, because she has no business sitting at home idle,” commented Winters.

Favourite Darrens Hope (pulled up before three out) was reported by jockey Paul Townend to have never travelled. The daughter of Oscar was found to be showing signs of being in season post race. Ambrose McCurtin, rider of the fourth home, No Memory, picked up a three-day suspension for using his whip with excessive frequency.

A couple of nice youngsters were on view in the maiden hurdles, Joe O’Flaherty’s Autumn Evening (5/4) beginning the card well for favourite backers.

In this Galtee 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle, the Jessica Harrington-trained and Sean O’Keeffe-ridden chesnut opened his account at the first time of asking over flights, beating Curious Bride more comfortably than a three-quarter-length margin might suggest.

SPLIT two of the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle saw Cappoquin-based, Paddy Corkery, a native of the locality, send out impressive eight-and-a-half-length victor Master McShee (6/5 favourite).

In the colours of Corkery’s wife Deirdre, Ian Power steered this fellow home, and plenty more is likely to be heard of the Malinas gelding. Already a successful owner, Corkery won’t forget this win in a hurry as it was his first with a restricted trainer’s licence.

The Robert Conway-owned and -bred Conright Boy (18/1) came a second time to touch off Bal De Rio (28/1) by a head in the Low Low Handicap Hurdle.

Cathy O’Leary trains the 11-year-old, now a five-time winner, this latest coming under Adam Short.

Kevin Brouder replaced the injured J J Slevin on Zaccarela (3/1 favourite) in the Kerrymaid Novice Handicap Hurdle. This grey passed the post in front for the in-form Philip Fenton yard, but was disqualified, with Feyan (11/1) promoted.

Zaccarela edged left in the closing stages, impeding the Robert Tyner-trained and Phillip Enright-ridden Feyan. With only a head splitting them there was no great surprise when the amended result message came through.

Tyner’s wife Mary owns Feyan. Meanwhile, there was a further sting in the tail for Brouder as he picked up a one-day careless riding ban.