Theatreworld upstages Cockney Lad and now heads to Festival

Theatreworld got back on the winning trail over hurdles for the first time in a year and now looks likely to take part in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham after upsetting odds-on favourite Cockney Lad at Navan yesterday.

Although drifting to 4 to 5 from an opening 4 to 7, Cockney Lad seemed poised for victory under Paul Carberry when shadowing the winner from the second-last but was unable to match Theatreworld's speed on the flat.

The slow pace until the last suited last year's Champion Hurdle runner-up admirably according to jockey Charlie Swan, who, however, remarked: "I was surprised he picked up so well after the last.

"The way the race was run suited mine because it didn't put pressure on his wind. He saw it out very well and now goes for a repeat pre-Cheltenham victory in the Red Mills Trial at Gowran Park on Saturday week.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien's travelling head lad Damien Byrne added: "We tied his tongue down and that obviously helped."

Snow Dragon, bought recently out of Liam Browne's stable with a view to running in the Triumph Hurdle, advertised his Cheltenham credentials when recording a decisive win on his hurdling debut.

Paul Carberry gave the son of Sharp Victor a typically confident ride, heading Davenport Banquet after the last, where both horses were far from fluent, to score by three and a half lengths.

"That was a good performance considering how testing the ground was. He could have one more run here before the Triumph," said Noel Meade.

Carberry later completed a double when successfully partnering Native Status, trained by his father Tommy, to success in the Grangebeg Beginners Chase. The eight-year-old was sent to the front four out and had to be hard ridden in the closing stages to hold Sharimage by three lengths.

Highly-rated novice Florida Pearl could take on some of the best chasers in training at Aintree in April. The six-year-old, who has been drawing comparisons with Arkle after victories in each of his first two starts over fences, is among 30 entries revealed yesterday for the Mumm Melling Chase on April 3rd.

He could face a clash with the likes of Klairon Davis, One Man and Viking Flagship in the Grade One event after tackling the Royal and Sun Alliance Novice Chase, for which he is 2 to 1 favourite with Ladbrokes.

Last Saturday's surprise Agfa Hurdle winner Master Beveled has the chance to prove his Sandown success no fluke in the Grade One Martell Aintree Hurdle the following day. The traditional curtain-raiser to the Grand National has also attracted leading Champion Hurdle candidates Istabraq, Shadow Leader and Collier Bay but not Dato Star in a field of 36.