Heist reverses the form emphatically

Heist may have been well beaten into seventh behind Stroll Home and Idiots Venture in the Galway Plate but totally different circumstances allowed him to emphatically reverse the form in yesterday's Smirnoff Handicap Chase over the same course and distance.

Only four lined up this time but over the final two fences and on the turn-in, the four were almost in a thrilling line. Surprisingly, Stroll Home, who had forced the pace, was the first to crack but perhaps just as surprising was that it was Heist who took advantage and not Idiots Venture.

Heist's natural speed has never been in doubt but an often rather circumspect attitude to the actual jumping involved has meant Noel Meade's gelding has sometimes failed to get into a position to use it. That problem didn't arise this time as Norman Williamson drove him clear of Idiots Venture with Lord Singapore putting in a fine effort only a head further back.

"It's always a big help to him when there are not many runners and the long run-in was a help too. The others jumped quicker than him and while he was fiddling them he wasn't knocking himself out of it," said Meade, who was saddling his third winner of the three days. Magical Minty could take a massive hike in class for the National Stakes after successfully giving weight away in the Vintners Race for Willie Mullins and Pat Smullen.

"He needs a mile and when it gets softer he could be up to winning a Listed race," said Mullins after the colt held off Lets Clic Together by a length.

It turned into a very good day for the McDonagh family with father Dessie training Deireadh An Sceal to finally break his hurdling duck in the opening maiden hurdle and his apprentice son Declan taking the Connaught Security Handicap on the flat with One More Spin.

"He was entitled to that. His form is there and he ran very well here at the big meeting," said McDonagh Snr, who plans to send Deireadh An Sceal to Gowran next.

Declan McDonagh produced One More Spin fast and late to beat Guest Cailin by three parts of a length and notch the gelding's first win on the flat. Another apprentice, John Mullins, will also remember the day after short-heading Michael Kinane in a driving finish to the Trappers Inn Handicap on Con Collins' Classic Mix. Kinane had briefly led in the straight on Fridolin but couldn't shake off the renewed effort of Mullins and Classic Mix.