Racing: Jessica Harrington returned to winning ways as Studmaster ended her long losing run with success in the prestigious Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown today.
Tommy Treacy hit the front turning for home on the 12-1 chance and the pair gained a valuable lead which was always hard to bridge on the bottomless ground, although ante-post gamble No Where To Hyde stayed on to get within two and a half lengths.
It had been 78 days since Harrington stood in the winner's enclosure to greet one of her own with her stable enduring a torrid three months, which has seen dual champion chaser Moscow Flyer beaten twice.
But recent signs of a revival were proved right and Studmaster's victory was a personal triumph for Harrington, who has ridden the six-year-old in all of his homework since recovering from a neck injury picked up on holiday in Kenya last summer.
"He is my comeback horse - he was the first one I rode after getting the all-clear about my neck and I rode him at home everyday this week," said Harrington. "He is very civilised and is suitable for grannies!"
Harrington had last welcomed in a winner when Greenbelt Flyer won at Naas at the end of October, and she continued: "One swallow does not make a summer, but it is a start. With the way my stable has been I was half-worried he would stop when he got to the front, but he kept on.
"He stopped when he hit the front at Christmas but he might have just needed that. Tommy had great faith in him and has always ridden him."
There was a further two and a half lengths back from No Where To Hyde (6-1) to Pom Flyer, and the former's jockey, Tony McCoy, said: "He got outpaced at a crucial time and lacked the experience for that type of race. But he came home nicely."
Victram, sent off the 4-1 favourite on the back of a promising run at Sandown last month, was never sighted under Timmy Murphy and finished well down then field.
Martin Brassil's Nickname continued his ascent through the ranks with another exhibition round of jumping to run his rivals ragged in the Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Novice Chase.
The French import left punters in the packed stands here over Christmas open-mouthed as he bolted up on his first start over fences and he duly followed up with an 11-length success.
Conor O'Dwyer sent the even-money shot to the front soon after flag fall and he never saw another rival in the Grade Two event, coming home on the bridle, with Father Matt taking the runner-up spot.
Nickname is now prominent in the ante-post betting for Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Festival, but Brassil is favouring the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy, should the ground be soft enough for him to take his chance.
Punters also enjoyed good fortune in the Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase when 4-1 favourite What A Native obliged for Charlie Swan and David Casey.
Carrying bottom weight of just 9st 10lb, the 10-year-old ploughed through the mud to score by a length and complete a four-timer, with Ross River (6-1) and A New Story (9-1) fighting out the places.