The Dessie Hughes and Bryan Cooper bandwagon rolled on with the nail-biting victory of Captain Arceus (12-1) in the www.thetote.com Handicap Hurdle.
Just touched off behind Summer Star at Leopardstown last month, Cooper looked to have done everything correct in producing him at the final flight to join Sizing Machine.
He went a good neck up but to the runner-up’s credit, he fought back near the line and it was a real head-bobber. The judge took a while to make his decision but Captain Arceus got the verdict by a short head.
Enchanted Forest was third with Tristram Shandy fourth. County Hurdle fourth Shadow Catcher disappointed.
Hughes said: “That was a good performance for only his second start in a handicap. He will go for the good two-and-a-half-mile handicap at Punchestown now and I’ve always said he wants two and a half miles.
“The better the ground the better he is. He’ll go over fences next season and he is one to look forward to.”
One Fine Day produced a telling turn of foot to spring a 16-1 surprise in the Weatherbys Ireland GSB Hurdle.
Only four went to post for the Grade Three event, with Willie Mullins providing Dogora and Djakadam and Dalasiri representing Sabrina Harty.
There was not much between those three in the betting or on the official figures, but Jessica Harrington’s mare appeared to have plenty to find.
With his mount clearly appreciating the better ground, Robbie Power bided his time as the other three took each other on before pouncing between the final two flights.
One Fine Day sprinted clear to beat Djakadam by three and a quarter lengths.
Harrington said: “It’s the ground, it’s as simple as that. She ran a blinder on her first start over hurdles at Christmas when the ground was half decent.
“Last time out her jumping was appalling, she just couldn’t get out of the ground. We’ll take on the best of them now at Punchestown where she will go for the Grade One (AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle on April 27th).”
Meanwhile, Foildubh gained an overdue big-race success in the Normans Grove Chase.
John Ryan’s stable star, sent off the 7-4 second favourite, had been without a win since scoring at Tipperary in October but had run several good races in defeat in the interim.
Henry De Bromhead’s Days Hotel was the odds-on favourite and all appeared to be going to plan as he took over at the head of affairs from Bob Lingo with half a mile to run.
But in typical Paul Carberry style, he stalked his prey before pouncing and a good leap at the last sealed the deal, with a length and three-quarters the official winning margin.
Foildubh had finished second in the Dan Moore Chase at this meeting last year behind Bob Lingo and the two races effectively swapped positions on the calendar this season.
The win provided a boost to the Grand National claims of Chicago Grey, who beat Foildubh last time out.
Carberry said: “He’s had a tough enough season coming up against good horses on bad ground but he got his ground today.”
Nadiya De La Vega (7-2 favourite) made the trip over from Nicky Henderson’s Lambourn base worthwhile by making nearly all the running in the John & Chich Fowler Memorial European Breeders Fund Mares Chase.
Pulled up in the JLT Specialty Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, this was her first run against her own sex since joining Henderson from France.
Tony McCoy got some tremendous leaps out of her on the way around and despite the challengers looming up, she kept on finding for pressure.
Another big leap at the last made sure of the Grade Three prize, with Avondhu Lady five and a half lengths away in second and Burn And Turn third.
There was to be no fairytale ending to the career of Banjaxed Girl, now in the care of Lorna Fowler. The race is run in memory of her in-laws but Banjaxed Girl could only finish fifth.
