BARRY Connell and Michael O’Sullivan have enjoyed Grade 1 success this season with novice hurdlers Marine Nationale and Good Land and they teamed up for another significant victory as Espanito Bello landed the €100,000 Bar One Racing Leinster National Handicap Chase in impressive fashion.

The lightly-raced son of Turgeon is something of a course specialist and, having gained all three previous wins at this venue, was well-backed into 7/2 for this extended three-mile test.

He travelled well to lead early in the straight and stretched clear on the run-in to beat 25/1 shot History Of Fashion by an easy seven-and-a-half lengths with top-weight Gabbys Cross over four lengths further back in third.

Delighted owner/trainer Connell said afterwards: “That’s what he was here two years ago when he beat Coko Beach the length of the straight and it’s taken us a little while to get back to that.

“He’s in the Irish National but we would only run him if the ground came up soft. I ran him in it once before but he wasn’t right and the ground was too quick.

“He’s going to go up a bit for that and is entitled to step back into graded company at some stage as well. That’s a fantastic pot to win today and I’m thrilled.

Good run

“He finished fifth in the Thyestes the last day which was a good run considering it was his first run in a chase for over a year. He got a lot of confidence from that and travelled way sweeter today. He was a winner everywhere.”

Nick Rockett overcame some sloppy jumping to justify 11/8 favouritism under Paul Townend in the opening maiden hurdle. The Thurles bumper winner got the better of chief market rival Lets Go Champ on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths and trainer Willie Mullins’ son Patrick said afterwards, “His schooling yesterday left a bit to be desired and I think Paul was relieved to get around let alone win but there’s definitely plenty of room for improvement.

“It’s great for Stewart (Andrew) who flew over from Leeds today. His wife Sadie passed away recently and this was her horse so it’s great that he’s won. He could be a nice novice for the spring and could even stay in for nice ground over the summer. He won a point-to-point and will jump fences in time.”

Robcour on Point with a double

BRIAN Acheson’s Robcour recorded a Grade 3 double with Irish Point and Journey With Me both successfully carrying his familiar colours on this all Bar One Racing-sponsored card.

Irish Point, runner-up twice in Grade 1 company this season, appreciated the drop in class to land odds of 1/4 in the Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle.

The two-mile event was run at a sedate pace with Davy Russell allowed to dictate on the Gordon Elliott-trained favourite before quickening from the front after the penultimate flight. He was pushed out on the run-in to beat No Looking Back, who put up a highly creditable effort conceding 10lb, by a length and a quarter.

Elliott’s assistant Ian ‘Busty’ Amond said: “They went slow and he was able to do his own thing. He wasn’t doing much in front and Davy said he wants that type of ground (soft).

“He was stepping down in grade and it was straight forward for him. He’ll probably go to Aintree and could run over two miles or two and a half.”

All the way

Journey With Me completed the Grade 3 double when making all under Rachael Blackmore in the Directors Plate Novice Chase. The Henry de Bromhead-trained 8/13 favourite was challenged by Limerick Lace early in the straight but proved strongest after the last to beat that rival by three lengths. The pair pulled 25 lengths clear of Flanking Maneuver in third.

Stable representative Robbie Power said: “It wasn’t ideal having to make his own running but it was a good performance. He’s a bit lairy and didn’t jump as well as he can. I think he was doing too much looking around him.

“He picked up well when the other horse came to him and I think he’ll stay further. He’ll either go to Fairyhouse for the Grade 1 novice over two and a half miles or he could go to Aintree or Punchestown for a three-mile Grade 1. He’s entitled to take his chance in a Grade 1.”

Carnfunock shows progress to win again

CARNFUNNOCK, trained by Stuart Crawford for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, has progressed well this term and added to wins in a bumper and rated novice hurdle in November when getting up on the line in the two miles and three furlongs handicap hurdle.

The front-running Cash Back was still in front 100 yards out but was collared by Lucky Max who in turn was touched off by a nose in the final stride. “He tried hard and his jumping is coming on as he did jump a bit big before. He got a bit more cover today and it was a smoother run through. “He could be a horse for Fairyhouse at Easter,” said rider J.J. Slevin of the 7/2 winner.

The other handicap hurdle for horses rated 80-102 went the way of Wee Charlie. The 4/1 chance travelled strongly to lead two out, quickened clear early on the run-in, held on in the closing stages by three quarters of a length from Dragon’s Pass. “He was just beaten in Fairyhouse and it’s worked out well today. He’s improving and hopefully he can win another. I’m delighted for Damien (Conway, owner),” said trainer Tom Gibney.

Dungarvan-based John Queally is considering a trip to Aintree next month with Gaillimh A Run (11/4), owned in partnership by Eileen O’Brien and John Harrington, after swooping late under John Gleeson to beat Brianna Lily in the mares’ bumper.