Racing: Arteea continued the fine run of trainer Michael Hourigan with victory over hot favourite Wild Passion at Naas.
The Co Limerick trainer has lifted big races with Beef Or Salmon and Hi Cloy recently and Arteea duly carried on the good work in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase.
Given a patient ride by Andrew McNamara, the seven-year-old took it up when long-time leader McGruders Cross came down at the second last. The 8-1 chance quickly shrugged off the always prominent Wild Passion, sent off the 4-5 favourite, and went on to score by six lengths.
Hourigan is on holiday in Lanzarote and was represented by his son, Michael junior. He said: "He's a similar type to Hi Cloy in that two and a half miles seems to be his trip and he is better over fences than hurdles. He also has a bit of pace."
McNamara added: "The extra three furlongs gave him the chance to get organised and suited him better. It's hard to say if he would have beaten McGruders Cross but he had every chance and I felt he was going well at that stage."
Wild Passion's trainer Noel Meade felt he should not have run his horse so soon after his defeat by Missed That at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day.
The Co Meath trainer said: "I blame myself. I should not have run him so soon after Christmas. I thought the school around here would do him good as he did not jump that well at Leopardstown but this race came too soon."
Meade gained quick compensation when Toofarback won the Grade Two Woodlands Park 100 Slaney Novice Hurdle in the hands of Niall Madden. The 7-1 shot took a narrow lead between the last two flights and stayed on strongly to hold Vic Venturi by a length and a half.
Merdeka was third while the 7-4 favourite Alexander Taipan could never get in a blow after being held up in the early stages.
Meade said: "I purposely didn't run him over Christmas to keep him back for this race. He has been working great, he's a nice horse and stays well. He'll be entered for both novice hurdles at Cheltenham - the SunAlliance and the three-mile Brit Insurance. He seems to be improving all the time."
Tony McCoy made his only mount of the day count when partnering King Johns Castle to victory in the opening Annual Membership At Naas Maiden Hurdle.
He got the 5-2 shot, owned by JP McManus and trained by Arthur Moore, home by a length from evens favourite Snow Tern from the Meade stable.
However, McCoy was severely cautioned by the stewards for careless riding for shutting the door on the runner-up after the last.
Meade felt there should have been an inquiry, and said: "I'm disgusted. They should called an inquiry. I'm not saying my horse would have won but the stewards should have called an inquiry."
David Casey took the riding honours with a 35-1 double on Ransboro (3-1) in the Property Partners Of Naas, Maynooth & Kildare Town Handicap Chase and Quatre Heures (8-1) in the www.financebusiness.ie Maiden Hurdle.
Quatre Heures, trained by Willie Mullins, earned a 25-1 quote from Cashmans for the JCB Triumph Hurdle following his impressive 12-length win over Count Kearney.
"It was nice to see him win today," said Mullins. "He got very upset before the race at Leopardstown last time and didn't run a bad race in the circumstances.
"He was like a lamb today, though, and it is a nice problem to have deciding what to do with him and Punchestown winner Mister Hight (joint ante-post favourite for the Triumph Hurdle."