Any Second Now served notice that he will be among the foremost contenders for Grand National glory at Aintree as he warmed up for the world’s most famous race with an impressive display in the Grade 2 Webster Cup.

As a leading National fancy whose biggest win to date came in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham back in 2019, the Ted Walsh-trained and J.P. McManus-owned gelding showed a touch of class in being able to drop back to two miles with some ease.

Just over a year ago Any Second Now did something similar at Naas only to be deprived of the chance to head to Aintree but 12 months on he looks an equally strong contender. The well-backed 3/1 chance tanked through the race for Mark Walsh and outclassed his rivals to defeat specialist two-miler Castlegrace Paddy by 10 lengths. If he turns up in Liverpool in this form, he will be hard to keep out of the frame.

Career best

“I’d say that was a career best,” said Walsh. “He reminds me of Papillon as he’s going there with a good chance. If he takes to the place, travels, jumps and gets a bit of luck he won’t be far away.”

Any Second Now was part of a four-timer for J.P. McManus and, as well having two winners with Sneezy Foster, the owner combined with Eric McNamara and his son Conor when the well backed Donkey Years (5/1) won the extended two-mile handicap chase.

On just his sixth career start and his first handicap chase outing, the seven-year-old was conspicuous by the ease with which he cruised through this race and he had any amount to spare in defeating Kilkeaskins First by a length and a quarter. He shouldn’t have any trouble adding to his tally in the coming weeks.

Sceaux good in Sneezy treble>

IT was quite an afternoon for Sneezy Foster as her first day sending out runners at a track where her Cullentra House Stables does so well yielded a treble which featured a display of some quality from Gars De Sceaux (9/4) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle.

This J.P. McManus-owned son of Saddler Maker had been brought along quietly so far with a satisfactory debut second at Fairyhouse followed by a hard-fought maiden hurdle win at this track in January.

However, the step up to a trip just short of three miles showed this gelding in an altogether different light. Mark Walsh was motionless as his mount cruised into contention and he remained statuesque as the five-year-old eased ahead of Velvet Elvis nearing the last en route to a nine-length success over stablemate Ragnar Lodbrok.

“He’s a lovely horse who is going to make a smashing chaser. It will be up to Frank and J.P. whether he runs again this season but he’ll only come into his own when he goes over fences,” declared the trainer.

J.P. McManus was also responsible for the opening leg of the treble as Coqolino landed the first division of the two-mile maiden hurdle. After filling the runner-up spot on three of his four previous racecourse outings the Mark Walsh-ridden gelding was returned at 8/11 and he would have won quite easily apart from almost coming down at the last.

“He deserved that on what he had shown so far this season. He’s a nice horse and could make a smart chaser next season. We’ll see how he comes out of this before deciding whether he runs again this season,” reported the trainer.

The other division of that maiden hurdle went to the Jack Kennedy-ridden Robinstown who showed marked progress from his racecourse debut, where he finished around 35 lengths adrift of Coqolino. Robinstown was headed by the favourite Hallowed Star after the last but he answered Kennedy’s exhortations to get back up in the final strides for a short-head triumph. The 11/1 chance carries the colours of the One For No Reason Syndicate.

Bumper

The card concluded with a cracking finish to the bumper where the Declan Queally-ridden and trained Gatsby Grey carried the day on his racecourse debut.

The son of the former Deutsches Derby winner Waldpark, who is owned by Queally’s mother Bernie, certainly didn’t go ignored in the betting at 11/2 and he showed a great attitude in the closing stages. Victory could have gone any one of three ways inside the final furlongs but Gatsby Grey was not found wanting as he got home by a length from fellow newcomer The Carpenter, with another first-timer, Corbeau, securing third.

“That’s brilliant. I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights because when you know a horse is good there is a lot of pressure running him. Thankfully it’s paid off and he’ll be sold now,” remarked Queally.

Matthew Smith’s four-year-old Bigz Belief produced a nice effort to defeat his elders in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. Dillon Maxwell’s mount stole into a commanding lead from an early stage and he sustained that effort in fine style in the straight.

Shakeytry and Djasek both closed in at various points in the straight but the Debbie Kelly-owned Bigz Belief (9/1) kept pulling out more to maintain a clear advantage and he reached the line with five and a half lengths to spare.

Fahy’s Judge takes verdict

TRAINER Pat Fahy has landed his share of decent pots this season and bagged another courtesy of Stormy Judge (8/1) in the €60,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase which left the trainer on course to enjoy his most lucrative campaign for 15 years.

In a decidedly exacting three-mile affair, Danny Mullins rode a superb waiting race on the Pat Byrne-owned six-year-old who was looking to build on a victory at Naas in late January.

After biding his time off the pace, the son of Fairly Ransom eased into contention turning for home.

From two out a thinned out field left just Enjoy D’Allen and Stormy Judge doing battle and the latter was just too strong from the last to the line as he carried the day by two lengths.

“I thought we had a great chance but of course when you get closer to the event you see a thousand things going wrong.

“He’s a novice and hasn’t that many runs over fences and he could go for something similar again,” declared Fahy.