“ALL roads lead to Cheltenham because it is three miles, three (furlongs) up the hill. He kicks in at three miles which is what you need,” said Davy Christie after Vaucelet rallied to winning effect in the McMahon McKay Hospitality and Leisure Hunters Chase.

He drifted out to 2/1 from 11/10 and wouldn’t have been overly enamoured with the soft, yielding to soft in places ground, but came home strongly on the run-in to catch last year’s winner Dorking Cock. Barry O’Neill drove him in by a neck for Samuel John Hegarty and Jennifer O’Kane.

Christie, whose Winged Leader was pipped on the line in last season’s St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham, added: “It is not Vaucelet’s ground. We had a discussion this morning whether we would run him or not, but there are so few races for him.

“We came anyway thinking we could be beaten today, but we need to get battle-hardened because he has been doing nothing really.

“He could possibly go to the hunters chase at Thurles and then Cheltenham. If he runs between now and Cheltenham, it is one we would consider.

“This is our number one Cheltenham horse. He’s very young, he’s only seven. The nicer the ground, the better he is. The ground he won on at Stratford was lovely ground.

“We’ll keep our fingers crossed we get him there. I wouldn’t be averse to going to Cheltenham without a run. He’s a big, tall, athletic horse and he’s not a stuffy horse. He is a much stronger horse this year.”

First, he steered the consistent Eye Van to success in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle. Having been placed five times over flights, the 2/1 favourite stayed on best to lead in the final 100 yards and won going away by four lengths for trainer Ray Cody and owner Ms A Brislane.

Moore said: “He had (very solid form), he had Grade 3 novice form. He’s an improving horse away and he would have come on from the run the last day.

“Ray kept it very simple to me - he said to be in the first four or five and he should be bang there. He said he might hit a little bit of a flat spot and he will go on again.”

Moore then came in for a winning spare ride for Seamus Fahey on reserve Kalanisi Dubh (20/1) in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old mare made headway into mid-division after three out and further improved at the next flight.

Moore delivered his challenge on the run-in and his partner stuck to her task well in coming home by three lengths for owners Michael Allen and Sean Allen.

“I only got it (ride) this morning, thanks to Garry Cribbin (agent) - he’s brilliant and on the ball,” the jockey said.

Hardy mare

“The mare was very fit. She was placed once but she’s a hardy little mare and she’s very good to jump. She found plenty and is game as you like.

“That’s my first double of my career which is great and the biggest day of my career.”

James O’Sullivan made all on Ifiwerearichman for Paul Nolan in the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle over two miles and a furlong.

The 10/1 shot had plenty in hand at the business end as he increased his advantage to nine and a half lengths for the Capital Racing Syndicate.

O’Sullivan said: “I got a grand easy lead in front and was able to fill him up everywhere. He’s unbelievable at jumping hurdles and I was able to keep taking him back everywhere.

“He got in a little bit close to the second last, but he went down and winged the last.”

HIGHSTREETFASHION (7/1) built upon a breakthrough victory at Punchestown last month when winning a battle in the Metcollect Handicap Chase over two and a half miles.

Patrick O’Brien was on board again and the pair beat Walking The Walk by a neck, but had to survive a stewards’ enquiry after bumping that rival in the closing stages.

Owner/trainer Patrick Rooney said: “He’s a game sort and that was over half a mile shorter than he wants. We were waiting a long time for him to grow into himself!

“We saw a big change in his jumping since we had the work done on his back before his last win. He jumped straight the last day and today again. Jumping is the name of the game.”

Henry de Bromhead’s Innovated (16/1) made a winning debut over fences for Gigginstown House Stud in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.

Swerve

Conor Brassil had to swerve his mount around the second-last fence which was damaged during the race and the duo went on by three lengths at the line. Innovated also has a maiden hurdle victory from Fairyhouse in January in the book.

Lucky Lyreen (11/2) won the McMahon McKay (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race by a nose for Jamie Codd, Gordon Elliott and the Lyreen Syndicate from market-springer Littlefoot.

There was plenty for the stewards to mull over in the final furlong as the tiring-leader Faulty edged across Lucky Lyreen and Littlefoot. In the final 100 yards, there was contact between the pair, but there was no alteration to the result.