Racing:Mount Benbulben got his fencing career back on track with a smooth success in the Nicky Connors — Lifetime In Racing Beginners Chase at Fairyhouse. A Grade Two winner last season as a novice hurdler, the Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old was third on his chasing debut at Naas in October and fell at Punchestown last month.
Davy Condon’s mount made a bad mistake on this occasion too, at the second fence, but slowly recovered his momentum. Not always fluent, the 8-13 favourite improved strongly moving to two out. Despite a minor error at the last, he cruised home by five lengths from Mackeys Forge, who had disputed matters for a long way.
The lame Mikael D’Haguenet was a non-runner.
“Mount Benbulben has got a right engine if we can get his jumping right,” said Elliott. “He is a bit sketchy and it was a good performance considering he was nearly on the ground (at the second fence). We’ll look for something over Christmas, he’s entered in the three-mile Fort Leney Chase at Leopardstown and he’d have no trouble staying that trip.”
Owners Gigginstown House Stud and their retained jockey Davy Russell were on song with a treble through Bright New Dawn, Midnight Game and Bog Warrior, all for different trainers. Bright New Dawn (5-1) made all as he claimed the Tote Jackpot Races 3 To 6 Maiden Hurdle from the highly-touted Noel Meade-trained Ned Buntline.
Trainer Dessie Hughes was at Newbury to supervise Magnanimity in the Hennessy, but Russell said: “We always thought a lot of him and bowling along in front seemed to suit him. He had a lovely first run last year but got very keen after that run.”
The Willie Mullins-trained Midnight Game (5-2) went clear on the flat to take the Fairyhouse On Facebook Hurdle in cosy fashion. The winner’s stablemate Simenon was a significant absentee having been reported to be lame.
Mullins said: “Midnight Game is a lot stronger this year but when I took the quarter sheet off him on the parade ring, I thought he looked big and I was a bit worried. Maybe he is better with that bit of strength though. His jumping seems to be sharper this season and we’ll probably move him up to a Grade Three race next — he looks to have plenty of gears.”
Bog Warrior, trained by Tony Martin, defied top weight in the Ryan’s Cleaning Services Handicap Hurdle. The evens favourite, a Grade One winner over fences, gained a confidence-boosting eight-length success over Wise Oscar.
“I’m absolutely delighted. Davy said he went down like an old pro today — he was only a baby last year,” said Martin. “As soon as he jumped the third-last he put the race to bed in a flash. We probably should have left him alone after the fall he got at Leopardstown as he was never right after that.
“Today’s win will leave him right to have a go at something better.”
Russell and Gigginstown had a rare reverse when Far Away So Close was second in the Bar One Racing Ballyhack Handicap Chase as Sean Byrne’s Lead Kindly Light (11-1) took top honours.