No Blues for the Walshes

HEAVENLY BLUES made a triumphant return to jumping in the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

The Ted Walsh-trained gelding benefited from two warm-up runs on the Flat to gamely land the spoils.

Ridden by Walsh's son Ruby, Heavenly Blues (3 to 1) was settled nicely in second as Strong Project made the running before going to the front at the third-last.

Bahrain Storm loomed menacingly, but Heavenly Blues sealed victory with a good jump at the final flight, going on to score by a length and a half. "He stays well and he jumped well today," said the winning trainer.

"We were the top-rated horse in the race taking into consideration the 10lb we got from Larkwing. We were entitled to win, the handicapper got it spot on.

"We'll probably run him back in the Flat in something like the Irish Cesarewitch."

Paidrin just came out on top in a thrilling tussle for the Coolmore One Cool Cat Maiden.

Jim Bolger's Fillies' Mile entry headed joint-favourite Nafaath over a furlong out but looked booked for second when newcomer Vitruvian Man loomed up menacingly. But Kevin Manning conjured a renewed effort out of the 5 to 1 chance to get back up by a head, with Nafaath rallying gamely in third.

Maal (5 to 1) capped a most consistent campaign with an emphatic success in the Fermoy Handicap.

David Marnane's gelding had already won twice prior to this event and Rory Cleary never let the pace-setting Apt Son get too far away, travelling in third place.

He took over at the head of proceedings over a furlong from the finish and ridden out by Cleary, stormed clear of the game Apt Son to score by five lengths.

Musical Review benefited from an enterprising Wayne Lordan ride to hang on in the Newmarket Handicap.

Lordan booted the 12 to 1 shot away from his rivals early in the straight and although he began to tread water close home, he held the late lunge of Fraizer by a length.

Adajal could be one to follow judging by his victory in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. Charlie Swan's representative defied top-weight to beat Assir by three-quarters of a length and there should be more to come from the 11 to 2 second favourite.

• JOHN OXX'S Arazan looks a colt with a big future judged on his victory in the Group Two Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. The half-brother to Group one winner Azamour staked an early claim for Classic glory when maintaining his unbeaten record by four lengths from Ryehill Dreamer.