A MASTERFUL Mark Walsh continued his outstanding run of form with a brilliantly timed effort on Thedevilscoachman in the Grade 2 BetVictor Boyne Hurdle.

A second consecutive winner of this race for Noel Meade, the J.P. McManus-owned gelding won at listed level as a novice hurdler last season and his two efforts over fences this term offered cause for optimism. However, the six-year-old’s connections decided fences could wait until next season.

Thedevilscoachman (4/1) oozed class and cruised through this two-mile, five-furlong affair and he still looked to be full of running as he eased into the reckoning at the second last. The leader, Ashdale Bob, flew the last which left Meade’s charge with a little bit to do but he steadily drew alongside without Walsh ever looking especially anxious and in the last few strides edged ahead to score by a head.

“He wasn’t having a cut at his fences the last day and Mark thought he sort of lost his bottle a bit,” said Meade. “I think the ground (heavy) is a big factor with him. He’s in the Coral Cup and the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and if he goes, the Coral Cup would be the one.”

In Tune

After finishing a close third on his handicap chase debut at Naas last month, Barry Connell’s Call The Tune (5/2) went a couple of places better in the Gibney’s Handicap Chase over three miles.

Donie McInerney’s mount could be picked out travelling strongly some way from home and he eased through to lead at the last for quite a cosy two-length triumph over Conquredalofeurope.

The €60,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final over this course and distance in a fortnight’s time will be next for this lightly raced eight-year-old.

For the second year in succession, the Listed BetVictor Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle went to Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore courtesy of Brampton Belle (7/2). The Kenny Alexander-owned mare wasn’t disgraced in a Grade 2 against geldings at Limerick over Christmas and she looked quite at home on the heavy ground and over this two-mile, five-furlong trip.

Brampton Belle doggedly answered her rider’s every call to find a way past the front-running My Design on the run-in and she reached the line with a diminishing half-length to spare over Lunar Display.

Unlucky

The latter looked somewhat unlucky as she was locked away on the inner form much of the straight and she picked up well when she got into the clear but the line just came a few strides too soon. A trip to Limerick for next month’s Grade 3 Irish Wire Products Irish EBF Shannon Spray Mares Novice Hurdle is on the winner’s agenda.

LUNAR Display’s rider, J.J. Slevin, gained compensation later on as Waittillitellyou (9/1) secured the second division of the 80-102 rated Meath Farm Machinery Handicap Hurdle where owner-trainer-breeder Eddie Cawley enjoyed quite a result by sending out a one-two. The lightly-raced eight-year-old showed promise on his handicap debut at Naas early last month. He moved into a closing third before the last and then sprinted clear to defeat Native Gold by just under six lengths.

Just over two years after his last success, Ask And Answer (15/2) came good in the first division of that handicap hurdle. Sean Aherne’s charge, who is owned by Eoin Barry, made the running for Sean O’Keeffe and he turned in a tremendously brave effort to turn away one rival after another in the straight before reaching the line just a nose ahead of the favourite, Nathaniel’s Dream.

Farouk D’Alene toughs it out

FOR the third time in five years, Gordon Elliott landed the Grade 2 BetVictor Ten Up Novice Chase as Farouk D’Alene bested fellow Gigginstown House Stud-owned runner Beacon Edge.

However, the 4/11 favourite had to work for this success and Beacon Edge emerged with just as much credit in trying to concede 7lb to the winner as a consequence of his Drinmore triumph in November.

The Jack Kennedy-ridden winner made a number of glaring errors including quite a bad one four out. He quickly recovered his composure after each mistake and he found plenty for pressure between the last two fences. Farouk D’Alene took off in front at the final fence and relished every yard of this three-mile race to defeat Beacon Edge by three-quarters of a length. The front pair finished 27 lengths clear of the 145-rated Braeside.

“He could have jumped better but he’s a tough horse and I liked the way he found plenty for pressure. He just isn’t the quickest,” declared Elliott. “At Cheltenham he is in the National Hunt Chase and the Brown Advisory. I’d like to see the ground no quicker than good to soft for him for him to run over there.”

Blazing Sopranos

The day began with a familiar feel as Elliott sent out Irish Blaze (9/1) to make a winning debut in the P.S. Supplies Doors & Floors Maiden Hurdle over two miles.

The trainer has enjoyed plenty of luck with comparatively cheap purchases from the point-to-point field and this gelding is another member of that group as he was picked up for just £20,000 after dead-heating for first at Knockmullen House back in November on his second start between the flags.

After travelling nicely through the race for Jack Kennedy, Irish Blaze wasn’t that fluent at either of the last two flights but he always gave the impression that he had Hemlock covered and he took that rival’s measure on the run in to prevail by a length and a quarter.

“The ground was a worry as I think he’d prefer much better,” commented the trainer. “The owners (Pony Sopranos Syndicate) are all from around here and I think they will have lots of fun with him.”

Landrake came close to giving the trainer a treble in the Paddy Flood Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race but he had to give best to the Willie Mullins-trained and Peter Fitzgerald-owned Madmansgame.

The latter was a 4/11 chance to follow up his very taking point-to-point success for Donnchadh Doyle at Boulta in December and produced a good effort from the front in a race that seemed to develop into a sprint finish. Landrake was delivered to challenge but Patrick Mullins’ mount was equal to the task at hand and found more to carry the day by three-quarters of a length. A Cheltenham bumper assault could be on the cards for his strapping charge.