McGruders Cross, part of a treble for in-form trainer Tony Mullins at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day, followed up in good style in the featured Woodlands Park 100 Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas yesterday.
Shay Barry's mount was up with the pace throughout, and kept on strongly in the straight to beat Away Home by two and a half lengths and has earned a a crack at the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Cashmans bookmakers gave him a 25 to 1 quote following yesterday's victory.
"He's an amazingly slow learner, and I'd say the more practice he gets the more he'll improve. He'll probably go next for the Deloitte & Touche Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 8th, and hopefully he'll make a SunAlliance horse," said Mullins.
There were veterinary excuses for a number of well-beaten horses in this event, with War Of Attrition found to have mucus in his lungs while Strike Back was "stiff behind".
Jim galloped his five rivals into the ground when making all under Garrett Cotter in the 2m 3f novice chase. The Jim Dreaper-trained gelding was driven clear before the home turn, and kept on gamely in the straight to beat Yeoman's Point by six lengths.
"We will try him over three miles here on January 24th in a Grade Two novice (Woodlands Park Naas Novice Chase) to find out what his trip is," said Dreaper.
Cyborsun also successfully adopted front-running tactics in the handicap chase, travelling strongly throughout in the hands of Conor O'Dwyer to comfortably beat Bennie's Pride by a length and a half.
"He disappointed us last season after coming over from France and has probably taken a bit of time to acclimatize. He'll go now for the Clarkson Financial Handicap Chase at Leopardstown on January 25th," said trainer Arthur Moore.
Charlie Swan confessed to being "pleasantly surprised" after Honeybunch also made all to provide promising young claimer Johnny Levins with his 10th winner.
"She jumped terrible at Punchestown last time, and I thought she wanted better ground," said Swan of the well-bred mare.
Philip Carberry got the better of his elder brother, Paul, when Youngblood swept past the well-backed evens favourite Cupla Cairde on the run-in to take the juvenile maiden hurdle by three and a half lengths.
"He likes the soft ground, and will go for a Grade Three (Juvenile Hurdle) at Punchestown in a few weeks (January 17th)," said trainer Harry Rogers.
Michael Hourigan saddled a 20 to 1 double in the final two races with Kilbeggan Lad and Vic Ville. Kilbeggan Lad headed Gravy Train on the run-in to take the handicap hurdle under Timmy Murphy, while the Denis O'Regan-ridden Vic Ville got on top in the final furlong of the bumper.
Cork on Saturday was the latest course to boast a large attendance on a day when jockey Paul Carberry was seen in great form, partnering three winners.
The opening leg of Carberry's hat-trick was gained in the Ballyclough Maiden Hurdle where Michael O'Brien's 1 to 4 favourite Beechcourt lost his maiden status over hurdles. Carberry's other winners were Dermot Weld's Mutakarrim and Tim Doyle's Revue.
