THEDEVILSCOACHMAN bagged his second Grade 3 success of the season over fences when running out a cosy winner of the Way To Paris Hugh McMahon Novice Chase at Limerick on Sunday.

Noel Meade’s charge had got the verdict in the stewards’ room at Naas last month but there was no drama this time as he quickened clear on the run-in to land the three-mile event in fine style.

Denis O’Regan produced his mount to challenge at the final fence and the 11/8 favourite asserted on the run-in to record a two-and-a-half-length win over Grandero Bello.

The JP McManus-owned gelding cemented his place at the head of the market for the Irish Grand National on Easter Monday but no decision has been made yet on his target at Fairyhouse. He is now 7/1 favourite (from 12/1) for the BoyleSports-backed feature handicap chase.

Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said: “That was grand and the ground was made for him. It was an ideal race and you couldn’t have it soft enough for him. You couldn’t have asked for better today. Denis let him warm up into it and the further he went, the better he jumped.

“We’ll hear what Noel thinks and how he comes out of the race but we’ll see about the Irish National. If he got really soft ground it might be a different kettle of fish and he could run in the Fairyhouse Gold Cup.”

Feronily off the mark

In the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle, Feronily benefitted from a drop in class to score, having contested a Grade 2 last time out.

Emmet Mullins’ charge had been fourth to Nemean Lion at Kelso in early March and went to post a 1/6 shot to open his account in the two-mile-three-furlong contest. Donagh Meyler was prominent on his mount throughout and he travelled well to lead before the second last. The Getaway gelding asserted on the run-in for a cosy six-and-a-half length win.

“We have lowered our sights with him and finally got a win under our belts,” said Mullins, who trains the six-year-old for Paul Byrne.

“Next year should be a nice year to look forward to as he has a lot of potential and he will probably go over fences.

“We’ll find a novice hurdle at Punchestown next and then he’ll go to the field for the summer.”

GORDON Elliott’s exciting bumper performer The Yellow Clay went to post a short price 4/6 favourite in the Listed Kevin McManus Champion Flat Race and duly delivered the goods.

Jamie Codd tracked the leaders before sending his mount on over a furlong from home. The Bective Stud home-bred galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-half-length win over long-time leader Familiar Dreams.

Codd had also been on board when the Yeats gelding won on debut and he said: “We thought going to Leopardstown that he could be quite a smart one for next year and he has backed that up today. I don’t know what’s in behind him but all you can do is win.

“I’ll speak with Gordon but he has now probably done enough for this year and we’ll treat him like a good horse.”

Superficial strikes

Elliott had also struck earlier on the card with Deeply Superficial in the Tote Mares Hurdle.

The Flemensfirth mare had been third behind subsequent Cheltenham winner You Wear It Well in Grade 2 company at Sandown on her previous outing and went to post 13/8 joint-favourite in the two-mile contest.

Aidan Kelly produced his mount to dispute early in the straight and she asserted on the run-in to post a length-and-a-quarter win over the fast-finishing Scenic Look.

Kelly, in the colours of Alymer Stud, said afterwards:- “She travelled smoothly enough but she missed one or two down the back-straight. When I asked her she kept finding for me although she could have done with some company in the closing stages.

“She loved that ground and two mile and four furlongs would also be no harm to her. That’s my first winner, on my third ride, for Gordon.”

THE Henry de Bromhead-trained Queen Jane came with a strong surge to run out a convincing winner of the novice handicap chase.

Rachael Blackmore held the Mahler mare up in the early stages of the two-mile-one-furlong contest before producing her to challenge at the penultimate fence.

The 3/1 shot went on as they approached the last and stayed on well to record a four and three quarter length win over Battle Of Mirbat.

Queen Jane was following up on her chase debut success at Clonmel and Blackmore said afterwards: “She is very intelligent, has really taken to jumping fences and has improved again from Clonmel. Her improvement has been massive over fences and hopefully she keeps going.”

Dreams delivers

In the handicap chase on the card 7/4 favourite Happy Dreams was another in-form performer to strike again.

Michael McDonagh’s charge was recording his fourth win of the campaign when lunging late under Sean O’Keeffe to grab Take All close home for a neck success in the two-mile-three event.

“He had to work hard and knuckle down to win. He is tough, like myself! He has probably enough done now for this season,” said the winning trainer.

Cafe on song

Earlier on the card, Cafe Con Leche was another produced late to run out a cosy winner of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Jack Gilligan gave the Charles Byrnes-trained gelding a confident ride as the 10/1 shot claimed It’sallabouteve in the closing stages of the run-in to post a four-length win.

“They went fairly hard and they stopped in front. He had form on heavy ground so handled it better than most of them,” said Byrnes, who trains the winner for his son Cathal.

“He could go back on the flat but I don’t think he liked jumping fences the few times he jumped them.”