RACING: Paul Carberry missed out on a decent winner when Island Life took the Mick Holly Memorial Handicap Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon. Carberry is out of action after his tumble from Charlie Yardbird at Navan, and was replaced on Noel Meade's charge by Ross Geraghty.
The 16-1 chance took up the running approaching the turn into the home straight and although Fantoche threw down a serious challenge, Island Life kept on strongly to score by a neck, with Fond Of A Drop third.
Meade said: "I gave him some shout up the run-in and Ross gave him a fair drive to the line.
"The horse lost his form but has started to bubble again at home and there is a two-mile-five-furlong chase at Punchestown that he will probably end up running in."
Earlier Ebaziyan (8-11) booked his place at this year's Cheltenham Festival when seeing off three rivals in the Ballsbridge Hurdle.
The 2007 Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero returned to Prestbury Park last March and finished 12th in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, and another crack at the race is on the agenda.
William Hill gave the grey a quote of 100/1 to claim favourite Binocular's scalp after he returned to form with an eight-length blitz.
Trainer Willie Mullins said: "I am not sure he jumps well enough to be competitive in the Champion Hurdle but we know he likes the track so he will take up his entry.
"I am keen to go back on the Flat with him this summer, but he will go to Cheltenham first."
Dermot Weld's Universal Truth justified his position as even-money favourite as he powered away with the closing Leopardstown Aertel Page 277 INH Flat Race.
William Hill cut the winner to 16-1 from 20s for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham
Weld said: "He did that nicely and I'll now speak to (owner) Dr Lambe as we now have three nice horses in the Bumper (Universal Truth, Rite Of Passage and Lead The Parade).
"We will see how they all are and how the ground is and then make a decision. If the ground is good, there is the possibility we could even run two."
Today’s Leopardstown results
1.55 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle
1st Mask Of Darkness (IRE) 4/1
2nd Ocean Cowboy (IRE) 33/1
3rd Pontiac (FR) 33/1
4th Stewarts House (IRE) 5/1
2.25 Ballsbridge Hurdle
1st Ebaziyan (IRE) 8/11F
2nd Star Wood (IRE) 7/1
3rd Essex (IRE) 6/4
4th Balsaflour (GB) 33/1
2.55 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle
1st Shirley Casper (IRE) 2/1
2nd Drive On Regardles (IRE) 3/1
3rd Time Electric (IRE) 13/8F
4th Annie May (IRE) 33/1
3.25 www.leopardstown.com Handicap Hurdle
1st Serpentaria (GB) 2/1F
2nd All Diamonds (IRE) 20/1
3rd Mission Possible (IRE) 14/1
4th Meritorious (IRE) 7/1
3.55 Mick Holly Memorial Handicap
1st Island Life (IRE) 16/1
2nd Fantoche (BRZ) 11/1
3rd Fond Of A Drop (GB) 6/1
4th Bluesea Cracker (IRE) 12/1
4.25 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice
1st Deutschland (USA) 11/10F
2nd Majestic Concorde (IRE) 7/4
3rd Coolpotts (IRE) 14/1
4th Beroni (IRE) 7/1
4.55 Aertel Page 277 (Pro-Am) Flat Race
1st Universal Truth (IRE) 1/1F
2nd Blackstairmountain (IRE) 4/1
3rd Tornedo Shay (IRE) 7/2
4th Rigour Back Bob (IRE) 16/1