THE decision to eschew a crack at this year’s Champion Chase with Captain Guinness was rewarded as Henry de Bromhead’s charge bagged a second Grade 3 course and distance success of the season in the BetVictor Chase.

The top-rated runner in the field did have to concede 7lb to the Willie Mullins-trained duo of Blackbow and Cash Back but was still able to justify 5/4 favouritism.

Rachael Blackmore’s mount got through a narrow gap against the near rail to challenge and lead at the second last fence and once he got to the front he kept up an unfaltering gallop to defeat Blackbow by just under three lengths for owner Declan.

De Bromhead reported: “I would like to try this horse over two and a half miles at some stage and there are races at Aintree and Fairyhouse to consider. There is also the Webster Cup at Navan but we have only 13 days from here to there.”

Gabbys in control

There was further joy for de Bromhead in the €45,000 Grade B Betvictor Novice Handicap Chase where Gabbys Cross (22/1) made it 50 winners for the season for Rachael Blackmore.

The Roger Brookhouse-owned gelding was very free to post with the result that he actually jumped a fence beforehand.

The departure of Lieutenant Command at the second when holding a fractional lead left the quality mare Ballyshannon Rose in front but she was picked off by Gabbys Cross at the last and the 129-rated seven-year-old kept on well to prevail by four lengths.

This was a first win over fences for Gabbys Cross.

“I was disappointed with his last run at Fairyhouse so I took the hood off him although it nearly backfired as he tanked through the race,” reported the trainer. “He might be one for the Grade A novice handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival.”

Rocking result

A deserved success came the way of Palace Rock (7/2) in the two-mile handicap hurdle where the Francis Casey-trained five-year-old bagged his second victory over hurdles. Second in a Grade B handicap at Navan last time, the five-year-old made much of the running for Denis O’Regan.

He had to endure a scare when diving at the last but he righted himself to see off Take All. The third-placed Cafe Con Leche was supported at huge prices earlier in the day before going off at 16/1.

“I always thought he was my best horse but the other horse (Max Flamingo) seems to be better.

“He doesn’t go right-handed so he could be back here in a few weeks or else go to Aintree,” reported Casey.

Flame burns brightly for Doyle

THE classy Flame Bearer continued his stylish progress up the ranks in the Grade 2 BetVictor Novice Hurdle. Pat Doyle’s charge had progressed in his three hurdle runs before this and took a further step forward under the trainer’s son, Jack.

The dual bumper winner, who is owned by Linda Mulcahy and Mary Wolridge, appeared to do everything at his leisure through the race and he moved past Ha D’Or on the run to the final flight. The evens favourite wasn’t too fluent at that obstacle but soon righted himself to get home by two and a half lengths from the staying-on Meet And Greet.

“He was quite unfit for his first run of the season owing to the fact that we couldn’t gallop him given the ground. He was then a bit unlucky here and won well last time,” stated Doyle whose four graded victories have all been achieved at this track. “The plan was always to come here and then go to Fairyhouse and then we’ll see about Punchestown. Jack thinks he’s a two-miler and we’ll stay at this trip for the moment.”

Music in tune

There was another smart sort on show in the BetVictor-sponsored bumper as Music Drive (9/2) lowered the colours of Sandor Clegane (4/9) who had chased home Facile Vega last time.

The Gordon Elliott-trained winner, who was second to Redemption Day on his debut at Christmas, showed plenty of class and just as much determination in the straight. He quickened nicely for Jamie Codd approaching the last couple of furlongs and fought on bravely to contain the market leader by three-quarters of a length.

“He will make a lovely jumper over two and a half miles next season. I’d say he could go to Fairyhouse at Easter for a winners’ bumper,” commented Elliott who trains the winner for David Barnard.

A dramatic conclusion to the Naas Racecourse Business Club Handicap Hurdle yielded a second win in succession for Brian Hamilton’s Justicialism (11/2) whose prospects looked remote at best for much of the straight.

The free-wheeling Calvados seemed sure to score when the chasing Magic Word came down at the last but Shane Fitzgerald conjured a whirlwind late charge from the Norman Houston-owned gelding to get up in the last couple of strides.

“He seems to be improving and the ground helped too,” reflected Hamilton. “Shane was very good on him and held him together.”

Bring On more for the Supreme

BRING On The Night made a late but taking bid to join the Willie Mullins Cheltenham team as he landed the second division of the two-mile maiden hurdle. A smart sort who won two of his three starts on the flat in France, the Marie Donnelly-owned gelding was returning from almost two years off the track.

The 5/6 chance gave his supporters a scare with an early mistake but he stamped his class on the race in the closing stages to dish out an eight-length beating to Snake Oil.

“He’s in the Supreme and could easily go there. He just needs to brush up his jumping but he will, he’s a good jumper,” stated Mullins. “He’ll make a very nice dual- purpose type as he could go back on the flat later in the year. He just suffered a setback last year which meant we didn’t get him out until now.”

Charging home

The other division of the maiden hurdle went to the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Highland Charge who progressed on his second to Sir Gerhard at Leopardstown over Christmas.

A last flight mistake almost proved costly for Noel Meade’s charge but the evens favourite gathered himself to launch a determined rally for Sean Flanagan on the run-in and he edged out Micro Manage nearing the line.

“Sean said you couldn’t get it soft enough for him and it had nearly dried out too much for him in the straight. He’s a chaser for next season but we’ll find a winners’ hurdle for him now,” declared Meade.