Racing:Mikael D'Haguenet's rehabilitation continued with an effortless win in the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas with jockey Paul Townend never having to move a muscle throughout on the 2-9 favourite.
Willie Mullins is successfully rebuilding the confidence of the 2009 Cheltenham Festival winner, who endured a miserable first season over fences last term.
Paddy Power cut him to 20-1 from 25s for the World Hurdle in March and it will be interesting to see which route Mullins takes as useful yardsticks Rick and Luska Lad were seven lengths and more behind.
Mullins and Townend also took the opening INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle with Marasonnien (4-7 favourite).`
Mullins said of Mikael D’Haguenet: “He’s getting his confidence back, and the conditions of the race suited him well.
“He’s in the Champion Hurdle and the Stayers’ (World) Hurdle and there’s not a lot for him between now and then.”
He added of Marasonnien: “I think he wants a longer trip, and two and a half miles or two and three-quarters will be no trouble to him.
“I’d imagine he’ll get an entry in the Neptune and the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham, and I don’t know if he’d run again between now and then.”
Medical Card (10-1) was a game winner of the Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase for Noel Meade and Davy Condon.
Always prominent, his jumping kept his pursuers at bay and while the likes off the Mullins-trained pair of Raptor and Allee Garde loomed up looking dangerous, another big leap at the final fence kept Medical Card in front.
Allee Garde made an error which cost him any chance and it was Michael Hourigan’s Crash who closed to within a neck at the line.