RACING - Leopardstown:Robbie Hennessy saddled his first ever winner as 2007 Champion Hurdle winner Sublimitysaw off a battle-hardened field in the Grade One Leopardstown Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle.
Hennessy only took over care of the Cheltenham winner when taking out a licence earlier in the season. And after a near-miss in the rescheduled "Fighting Fifth", he went one better on the final day of Leopardstown's Christmas meeting.
The eight-year-old had failed to win since his Festival success 21 months ago, but Philip Carberry's mount relished the quick conditions and was always travelling powerfully.
Two other Champion Hurdle winners, Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace, cut out the running until the former weakened leaving the back stretch, from where a wall of four horses swung the final bend in unison.
Sizing Europe, the 15-8 favourite, again flattered to deceive and was the first to crack, with Sublimity striking the front heading to the final flight.
Surprise package Won In The Dark threw down a strong challenge on the run to the line but was always being held by the 3-1 winner and lost out by half a length, with the pair well clear of Brave Inca in third.
Hennessy has just 11 horses in his care in Co Kilkenny, and his stable star is now the general 10-1 second favourite behind Binocular for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in March.
Hennessy said: "To have a first winner in a Grade One — it doesn't get much better than that.
"Philip gave him a super ride and was so cool. The ground played its part and we told Philip to take his time and not hit the front until after the last as he probably got there a bit soon at Wetherby last time.
"If the ground is good and he is good we'll bring him back here for the Toshiba Champion Hurdle next month."
Brave Inca continues to excel, despite his advancing years, and again made the frame at the top level on his second start back from injury.
Trainer Colm Murphy said of the 2006 Champion Hurdle hero: "He was there with every chance and has ran a blinder. He has now got his two runs under his belt and he seems A1.
"Ruby (Walsh) said they didn't go hard enough for him, and I have no doubt he will get further.
"We will stick to two miles for the time being and he'll have an entry in the Champion Hurdle here next month."
JP McManus strengthened his Cheltenham Festival squad as top-class bumper prospect Sweeps Hillopened his account in the Kilternan INH Flat Race under Padraig Roche.
McManus was also on the mark in the Leopardstown Golf Academy Hurdle as Dancing Tornadogunned down Willie Mullins' Candy Girl to deny the Irish champion trainer a seventh win at the meeting.
Mullins was also in contention in the following Centra Central Park Beginners Chase but Deutschland fell when leading over the final obstacle.
Nearest pursuer Askthemaster went the same way moments later which paved the way clear for 33-1 outsider Back On The Roadto secure a neck verdict over Horner Woods.
A trip to Cheltenham for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle is on the agenda for Jessica Harrington's Give It Timeafter her stylish success under Andrew Leigh.
The 3-1 chance had been placed in Graded company on her two most recent outings and took this Listed event in good fashion.
Give It Time kept on gamely to pass the judge two lengths clear of Aura About You.
Harrington said: "She will go to Cheltenham now as she stays two and a half miles well, and I doubt she will run beforehand."
Luke McNiff rode his sixth career winner as he arrived late in the day aboard Cleni Boyto claim the opening Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase.
Fond Of A Drop appeared to have wrapped up matters after jumping the final fence, but 17-year-old McNiff stoked up the Noel Meade-trained 4-1 favourite and got up for a three-quarter-length success.
Meade later teamed up with his stable jockey Paul Carberry in the Business and Finance Maiden Hurdle as the pair cashed in with 7-4 favourite Corskeagh Royale.
Today's Leopardstown Results
12.25 Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase
1st Cleni Boy (FR) 4/1F
2nd Fond Of A Drop (GB) 10/1
3rd Dan George (IRE) 12/1
4th Manorville (IRE) 16/1
12.55 Leopardstown Golf Academy Hurdle
1st Dancing Tornado (IRE) 11/4
2nd Candy Girl (IRE) 7/4F
3rd Splurge (IRE) 7/1
4th Mr Muji (IRE) 6/1
1.25 Centra Central Park Beginners Chase
1st Back On The Road (IRE) 33/1
2nd Horner Woods (IRE) 13/2
3rd Travino (IRE) 10/1
4th Boulavogue (IRE) 9/2
1.55 Leopardstown Golf December Festival Hdle
1 Sublimity (FR) 3-1
2 Won In The Dark (IRE) 20-1
3 Brave Inca (IRE) 9-2
4 Muirhead (IRE) 13-2
2.25 Irish Stallion Farms EBFMares Hurdle
1st Give It Time (GB) 3/1
2nd Aura About You (IRE) 6/1
3rd Shirley Casper (IRE) 10/3
4th Pomme Tiepy (FR) 5/2F
2.55 Business and Finance Maiden Hurdle
1st Corskeagh Royale (IRE) 7-4F
2nd Stewarts House (IRE) 12-1
3rd Judge Roy Bean (IRE) 3-1
4th One To Many (IRE) 20-1
3.25 Kilternan INH (Pro/Am) Flat Race
1st Sweeps Hill (NZ) 7-2
2nd Rhyl Accord (IRE) 9-4
3rd Hugo De Vindecy (FR) 2-1F
4th Long Strand (IRE) 10-1