LIFETIME Ambition has the Grand National as a long-term target following his win in Limerick’s featured Grade 3 BetVictor Hugh McMahon Novice Chase on Sunday.

Ridden by Robbie Power for owners Linda Mulcahy and Mary Wolridge, the gelding (13/8) raced prominently, jumped well and skipped clear of his rivals in the home straight, eventually beating Darrens Hope by four and a quarter lengths.

Winning trainer Jessica Harrington was represented by her daughter Kate Harrington who said: “It was nice for him to get his head in front, going up to three miles and Robert said he wanted every bit of it. He’ll have an entry in the two-mile, five-furlong novice handicap and also the three-mile Grade 1, both at Punchestown.”

She added: “Robert said he is a proper English National horse in the making for next year and said he loves that nicer ground. We’ll campaign him differently next year, have him ready for the autumn, keep off the heavy ground and have him for a spring campaign.”

Champion trainer Willie Mullins was expected to win the concluding Listed Kevin McManus Bookmaker Bumper, as he sent out 1/4 favourite Mercurey along with 100/30 second-favourite Impulsive Dancer with his bigger-priced runner winning, under jockey Jodie Townend.

Mercurey, under Patrick Mullins, led the eight-runner field but had no answer once stablemate Impulsive Dancer went by two furlongs out. Carrying the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, Impulsive Dancer scored by three lengths from runner-up Blizzard Of Ox, with Mercurey third.

Willie Mullins said: “He is improving all the time, his work at home has been very good and I don’t think he needs heavy ground either. He is a horse to look forward to mix it on the flat and over hurdles.

“Both he and Mercurey won their bumpers on heavy ground but the winner is a more mature flat type whereas Mercurey is probably an immature jump horse. I’d imagine Impulsive Dancer will go to Punchestown, possibly for the Champion Bumper, and could continue racing during the summer.”

THERE was another high-class winner of the BetVictor Supporting Irish Racing Mares Hurdle, with the Dermot McLoughlin-trained, Conway family-owned Santa Rossa (85/40) scoring impressively on her reappearance run, under Keith Donoghue.

The eight-year-old was having her first run for a year and routed her rivals, eventually beating Gjoumi by six and a half lengths.

Irish National winning trainer McLoughlin later reported: “She is a good mare and will improve a hell of a lot for that. He (Donoghue) said it was hard to pull her up and she took a good blow after the second last. It was an ideal race to start her off in today and we might go for a Grade 2 hurdle at Fairyhouse next.

“The owner likes to breed so he mightn’t chance going chasing but it depends, as she does jump well.”

Midnight magic

Keith Donoghue had earlier steered well-backed Midnight It Is (15/8) to win the Nevilles Bar Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle (Div II), for trainer Gavin Cromwell and owner Brendan Keogh.

Reverting from chasing, the son of Midnight Legend went clear of his rivals early in the home straight and scored by nine and a half lengths from Pats Choice.

Cromwell commented: “He was entitled to be thereabouts off his mark (112) and it was grand to get a win on the board as he had been trying hard without succeeding.

“He should go on a bit of nicer ground and will race away during the summer. He’ll also go back chasing sometime.”

Tough Road

The opening division of the race was won by another well-backed winner, with The Road To Fame (5/4 favourite) scoring for trainer Eoin Doyle and jockey Donagh Meyler.

Doyle later reported: “He was workmanlike and all he does is stay and he wants further. He also wants it softer and just about got away with it.

“He is a tough little horse, jumps well and if the ground came up softish at Punchestown, he might go for the Connolly’s Red Mills Series Final.

“It is great to have a first winner for Eddie Walsh, who was a good friend of my father and they were in business together years ago.”

THE David O’Brien-trained Minx Tiara (15/8 favourite) was a ready winner of the Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap Chase, as the Fastey For Fun Syndicate-owned mare jumped well for jockey Sean Flanagan, scoring by three and three-quarter lengths from Dinny Lacey.

O’Brien said: “She jumped great and is a good leaper. We thought she’d win another hurdle before going back chasing but had little issues and was getting caught at the finish, so I got her palate fired. She loves going forward and going from the front and today’s race was an ideal opportunity.

“She is a versatile mare and maybe next year could be a Galway Plate mare.”

Master in tune

There were two family wins on the afternoon, with Masterstonemason (25/1) being a popular winner of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle for owner/trainer and publican Flan Costello.

Masterstonemason was partnered to a last-gasp neck win by Charlie O’Dwyer and afterwards Flan Costello junior reported: “This is fantastic and was five years coming! I had him tuned up for today and everything was going to plan at home and he was beating everything. He has a turn of foot, that’s what you need and always showed it at home. He had problems the last few years with his back but we got that sorted. It is amazing for the old man - he loves this sport and this is his thing. We are riding out 14, it is a small family operation and we have a few nice horses at home at the moment.”

Classy Dara

Trainer John Ryan’s family-run yard was also on the mark in the Pat & Eileen O’Mara Novice Handicap Chase with The Dara Man (7/1), for owner/breeder Declan Donohoe and jockey Liam Quinlan.

Templemore-based Ryan said afterwards: “He is a class jumper and is still a novice chaser until November so will compete in novices.

“He is an own-brother to Mystery Stowaway, a really good mare who I had who was killed. She was extraordinary and this is a lovely horse over a fence.

“Schooling at home, he would take lengths out of horses.”