Reigning Champion hurdler Istabraq had little real difficulty in registering his 12th success over jumps in the Avonmore Waterford Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse yesterday.
Prohibitively priced at 1 to 5, Charlie Swan's mount survived a rare mistake at the fourth flight when hardly out of a canter to defeat 11 to 2 chance Nomadic far more readily than the half-length winning margin.
"He stood too far off the fourth and gave me a fright by hitting the top bar. But he was so fresh and well, he was soon back in control," Swan reported.
Allowed his head going to the third-last, Istabraq was never in any danger of defeat thereafter, with Master Beveled weakening under pressure from Tony McCoy after two out as Nomadic went second.
But under the whip soon afterwards, Nomadic was always playing second fiddle to the eased-down favourite.
"Istabraq is much better going on when there's a muddling pace. That mistake was down to lack of concentration, but he's like a Ferrari among rally cars," said his trainer Aidan O'Brien.
Istabraq, who is now a 7 to 4 chance with Sean Graham for a Cheltenham repeat, now goes for the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown next month before returning to the same track in January for the Irish Champion Hurdle. Alexander Banquet upset a gamble on Cardinal Hill in a magnificent duel for the Grade One Avonmore Waterford Royal Bond Novice Hurdle. In a memorable clash, Cardinal Hill looked all over the winner when easing to the front rounding the final bend despite having blundered five out.
Paul Carberry appeared to be in control going to the last on the odds-on chance where both Alexander Banquet and To Your Honour were under pressure behind.
But an untidy jump at the last by the favourite let in Alexander Banquet, who relentlessly closed the gap under a strong drive from Ruby Walsh to lead just before the line to land the two-mile contest by a head.
"Cardinal Hill probably ran too free and that played into our hands," said winning trainer Willie Mullins. "It was a slogging match from the last and that suited Alexander Banquet, who only does what he has to. I would give the entire credit to Ruby there.
"But I think this race showed that we should go for the SunAlliance (two miles, five furlongs) rather than the Supreme Novices' (two miles) at Cheltenham next March," Mullins added.
Walsh had an easier success aboard Promalee for trainer Frances Crowley in the Chiquita Drinmore Novice Chase, this time at the main expense of Tony McCoy's mount Foxchapel King.
Jumping and travelling well for his confident 19-year-old partner, Promalee completed Walsh's 24 to 1 double with the minimum of fuss.
Foxchapel King had looked a likely winner three out, but Walsh was taking his time and produced Promalee full of running between the last two fences for a cosy success.
On Saturday, Paul Carberry and Noel Meade dominated proceedings at Fairyhouse when combining for a 156 to 1 treble. Miss Emer set the ball rolling for when upsetting hot-pot Golden Rule in the Cawleys Furniture Juvenile Hurdle. Sydney Twothousand, who only joined Meade a month ago from Henrietta Knight, as owner Mike Watt wanted a few runners in Ireland, put up an impressive front-running performance in the Blanchardstown Centre Beginners Chase.
The giant New Zealand bred gelding was fortunate to survive after pecking on landing at the first but jumped superbly thereafter. Snow Dragon completed the Meade-Carberry treble with a facile victory in the J C's Supermarket Hurdle. The son of Sharp Victor relished the soft ground, and cruised to the front after two out to readily beat Shean Town by three lengths.
Nuzum Road Makers struck a blow for this season's novices when taking the featured Pierse Porterstown Handicap Chase for local trainer Michael Cunningham.
Lisa's Storm, one of just three horses currently in training with Kilkenny trainer John Phelan, showed admirable determination when just holding on from SawaId in the £20,000 Ladbroke New Stand Handicap Hurdle.
Montana Glen, a dual bumper winner here last term and a promising second to Snow Dragon on his hurdling debut at Punchestown last month, duly landed prohibitive odds in the opening Oldtown Maiden Hurdle.
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