Fairyhouse report:Nickname continued his winning streak in some style at Fairyhouse yesterday but when it comes to success, even the ex-French star has to give way to his jockey Ruby Walsh whose treble took him to the 99 winner mark for the season in Ireland.
Both Black Harry and Alexander Taipan entered calculations for the Cheltenham festival with easy wins for the champion jockey who is closing in on a spectacularly quick century considering he has also notched up 52 winners in Britain.
However, even in the middle of such a satisfying day's work, Nickname made enough of an impression on Walsh to suggest those bookmakers who cut the Martin Brassil-trained horse to 10 to 1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase may not have lost complete control of their senses.
Only four horses might have lined up for the Grade Two Ladbrokes Normans Grove Chase but there was complete authority in the way Nickname drew 15 lengths clear of Justified with Central House back in third.
Watson Lake was remounted by Paul Carberry to take fourth money after falling at the third last.
"I've never ridden anything to handle soft ground as good as him," declared Walsh afterwards, characteristically cutting to the heart of the matter.
Testing conditions are an absolute pre-requisite for Nickname to be at his best and it's well over a decade since the Cheltenham festival has served up that type of going. But while there is still a chance, Brassil is going to cling to the hope of a mudbath.
"You never know," he said afterwards.
"This global warming might help us out!"
If climate change doesn't work though, the Curragh trainer is unlikely to be too upset as Nickname has already done enough to join the Grand National hero Numbersixvalverde at the centre of his affections.
"I'm lucky to have him. He's a very professional horse and he relaxes lovely now," Brassil said.
"He will get an entry at Cheltenham but there are plenty of other good races for him. There's the Tied Cottage Chase in two weeks' time and another race at Naas in March. He's already done plenty already though."
The trainer also confirmed that Numbersixvalaverde will continue his build up to an Aintree-return in the Grade Three Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran on Thursday.
If Nickname was all about quickening in the conditions, then Black Harry's distance success in the three-mile novice hurdle proved that stamina is the seven-year-old's major weapon.
Willie Mullins is of the same opinion and said: "He is now starting to work into the sort of horse we thought he was. He has taken time to. I will now put him in the two long-distance novice hurdles at Cheltenham. He needs two miles and six or three miles. But I think we are really marking time until he goes chasing next season. He has everything - size, scope, a good pedigree and he stays all day."
Bookmaker reaction was to make Black Harry a 25 to 1 shot for the Ballymore Properties Hurdle and as low as 10 to 1 for the Brit Hurdle.
Alexander Taipan is a general 33 to 1 shot for the SunAlliance Novice Chase after breaking his duck over fences by 17 lengths and he will rise steeply in class for his next start in the PJ Moriarty at Leopardstown on Hennessy day.
"I didn't think I'd be waiting this long for him to win over fences but at least he is now getting his jumping together," said Mullins.
The Mullins team were confidently expected to notch up another winner with the much-hyped Mad Fish in the bumper but the 4 to 7 favourite couldn't cope with another newcomer Aranleigh, trained by Tony Mullins, who powered five lengths clear.
The winning trainer was not surprised either and Tony Mullins reported: "I think he's very classy. He has done everything right from day one. He has a round action but his pedigree suggests he would like better ground so for once I'll be heading to Cheltenham pretty cocky."
Barry Geraghty got in on the winning action too and the former champion jockey managed to get the favourite Good Thing home in front in the maiden hurdle after looking beaten by the newcomer Barcardero at the second last.
