Swan reaches century on Kilcoo Boy

CHAMPION jockey Charlie Swan, fresh from his win on Whats The Verdict at Chepstow on Saturday, brought his domestic tally for the season to a 100 winners with a comfortable success on Kilcoo Boy in the Fishery Novice Hurdle at Naas yesterday.

A well-supported even money favourite, Kilcoo Boy, trained by the absent Aidan O'Brien, was ridden out to beat newcomer Go Roger Go by two lengths, with the winner's stable companion, Rainbow Victor, a further two and a half lengths back in third.

Eugene O'Donnell, representing O'Brien, said: "He probably did not stay two and a half miles at Gowran Park last time, but Charlie is confident that he will do so on better ground. He will be kept on the go over this trip for the present."

Swan said: "I had hoped to get 100 winners at home before Cheltenham and I am delighted to do so." The seven-times champion jockey, who rode 150 winners in Ireland last season, sat out the Mondred Novice Chase, which went to Leamhog, trained by O'Brien and well ridden by Trevor Horgan.

Opera Hat, strongly fancied to add to her eight previous wins at the track, was sent off the 2 to favourite for the Naas Handicap Hurdle, her first start over the smaller obstacles since falling early on in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham last year. But she was struggling after a mistake at the fourth-last flight and could only finish third, 14 lengths off impressive winner Tryfirion.

Tryfirion, ridden clear off the home turn to beat Appellate Court by 12 lengths, has the Galway Plate as his long-term aim, according to his trainer Victor Bowens, who said: "He will stay over hurdles for one or two more runs and then he will be put out to grass for a month or so. He is really a summer horse and he will be back for the Plate."

Paul Carberry limped into the weigh-room after he had taken a nasty fall from Native Status at the third-fence in the novice chase, his second tumble of the afternoon. His father Tommy, who trains Native Status, said: "His left knee is bruised and it looks as if it could be very painful.

I have told him to get ice on it as quickly as possible. With a little luck he will be fine."

Carberry, who has several fancied mounts at Cheltenham, including Squire Silk and General Command tomorrow, will today go to Navan hospital and receive treatment from Fred Kenny.

The Naas officials put an "alert" in Carberry's medical book and now he will have to pass the medical officer at Cheltenham before being allowed to ride.

At Navan on Saturday, Arthur Moore and Francis Woods, the team responsible for Queen Mother Champion Chase favourite Klairon Davis, had a real confidence booster with a near 200 to 1 four-timer.

Diamantino (11 to 10 favourite) kicked off the quartet with a runaway success in the second division of the Ballivor Maiden Hurdle before Good Glow (2 to 1) also justified favouritism with a hard-earned success in the Castletown Handicap Hurdle.

Pat Hartigan, another for the Moore-Woods team, just got touched off by Blushing Sand in the Stallion Owners Novice Handicap Hurdle before the pair were on the mark again with The Quads (7 to 2) in the Long Distance Handicap Hurdle.

The Quads had to get the full treatment from Woods to gain a neck verdict over Treanaree; and stablemate Living It Up (6 to 1) maintained the trend when making virtually all to claim the Baltinglass Beginners Chase.

Willie Mullins, who will saddle the probable favourite for the Festival bumper, Florida Pearl (Richard Dunwoody), provided yet another winning favourite in the concluding bumper as See Just There turned the event into a procession.