EARLY Doors claimed his second victory in the space of a fortnight with a smart display in the Grade 3 Fishery Lane Hurdle at Naas.

Joseph O'Brien's four-year-old made a big impression on his debut at Punchestown before finishing third in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper in April.

He justified odds-on favouritism on his hurdling debut at Wexford in late October and was a 3/1 shot here as he stepped up in class.

Early Doors travelled well into the home straight and although 5/4 favourite Meri Devie would have made more of a race of it but for encountering traffic problems, O'Brien's charge passed the post two lengths to the good, providing owner JP McManus and jockey Mark Walsh with their second winner on the card after the triumph of Red Jack.

McManus and Walsh later made it a treble with Oscar Knight.

McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said: "He ground it out well. Mark liked him at Wexford. He was a bit green there and he thought he'd improve, which he has.

"He jumped a bit novicey early but he got the hang of it well. You would have to be pleased with him.

"It was nice to get today out of the way and we'll see where we go now. He handled the ground quite well and hopefully will go on from there."

TOP WEIGHT

Ball D'Arc gave weight and a beating to some talented rivals in the Grade 3 Poplar Square Chase.

Despite having to concede 9lbs all round, Gordon Elliott's charge was the 6/4 favourite for this two-mile contest, with Jack Kennedy doing the steering.

American Tom jumped accurately at the head of affairs for much of the way, but having been off the track since falling here in January, he began to falter between the final two fences.

Turning out just seven days after finishing third at Down Royal, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned Ball D'Arc came home strongly to see off the ultra-consistent Ordinary World by five lengths, with American Tom third.

Elliott said: "Michael (O'Leary, owner) really gets the credit for this one as I wanted to give him an extra few days and go for the Clonmel Oil Chase. He said they had no runner in this and to let him take his chance.

"Michael is keen to support all these graded races.

"It was a good performance giving them plenty of weight and he'd be better over two and a half (miles). He could go for the John Durkan (at Punchestown, December 10)."

SURPRISE

Dual Grade 1-winning hurdler Bacardys had to make do with minor honours in the Paddy Power Fast & Convenient Phone Betting Beginners Chase behind Mossback.

Bacardys was the even-money favourite to make a winning debut over fences for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, but a few slow leaps put him on the back foot and, while he did make some inroads in the straight, he could manage only third.

Victory went to Gordon Elliott's largely unconsidered 33/1 shot Mossback, who scored by three lengths under Jack Kennedy from Snow Falcon.

Elliott, who also struck with the Kennedy-ridden Ball D'Arc in the Poplar Square Chase, said: "That was a bit of a surprise. I thought he'd want further and he does want further as he was off the bridle but kept galloping."

TREBLE

Oscar Knight's victory in the Grade B Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle capped a great day for JP McManus and Mark Walsh.

The Tom Mullins-trained eight-year-old is a useful handicap chaser but is rated 20lb lower in this sphere and took full advantage.

The 5/1 chance travelled strongly into contention at the top of the straight and wasn't too hard pressed to beat Glenloe, also in the McManus colours, by a length and a quarter.

The victory gave Walsh a treble following the earlier wins of the McManus-owned Red Jack and Early Doors, while McManus also struck in Britain with class acts Modus and Unowhatimeanharry.

Mullins said: "He had a wind op since the (Irish) National, and the run in Punchestown brought him on nicely for today. His hurdle mark looked favourable compared to his chase rating, and he could go for a big handicap chase around Christmas or the Thyestes. He will probably run over hurdles up to that."

Red Jack stretched his unbeaten record to three when making a successful start to his jumping career in the Irish Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Impressive in a couple of bumpers before being turned out for his summer holiday by Noel Meade, the 1/3 favourite was never too far from the pace and quickened to dispute the lead with Judgement Day after three out.

He didn't exactly stride away under a double handful, with Stooshie throwing down some semblance of a challenge, but Mark Walsh never looked too worried on Red Jack, who stayed on to score by three and a half lengths.

High-class bumper performer Next Destination was a deeply impressive winner of the Hospitality At Naas Maiden Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was fourth behind the ill-fated Fayonagh in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March and was a 4/1 shot for his hurdling debut under Paul Townend.

Carrying the colours of Malcolm Denmark, Next Destination travelled strongly and showed a fine turn of foot after the final flight to put his rivals to bed by upwards of 13 lengths.

Someday was second, ahead of 7/4 favourite Paloma Blue in third. The giant Pallasator, who won a charity race on his recent debut for Gordon Elliott, was ultimately well-beaten in fifth place on his jumping introduction.

Townend said: "He was very good. I was very taken by that (performance), in that ground on his first run of the season. He jumped great and I couldn't believe how well he picked up from the back of the last in that ground.

"There were a lot of reputations going into it and he hasn't done himself any harm. I'd imagine he could go further, but the pace he showed there, I'd say there's a lot of options for him."

First To Boogie and Persian Wind had the Paddy Power 1800 721 821 Novice Handicap Chase between them as they approached the last in a share of the lead.

However, Persian Wind parted company with Luke Dempsey, allowing 4/1 favourite First To Boogie to come home 12 lengths to the good over Red River Gold.

Trainer Madeleine Tylicki said: "He's such an honest horse and I couldn't be happier with him. He came out of his summer break really well. I thought he was a little unlucky at Galway last time but things went our way today.

"It looks like we are going to have a bit of fun with him over the winter. We'll make a plan when we see how he comes out of this race."

Lady Ischia's second at the Punchestown Festival was the best form heading into the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race, and Gavin Cromwell's 7/4 favourite proved seven and a half lengths too good for Florazi.

READ THE FULL NAAS REPORT IN NEXT WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD