THE manner of his success was such that he will most likely be rated out of the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham but Gordon Elliott’s Grand Paradis served notice that he will be a force at one of the major spring festivals as he ran riot in the Grade 3 Markaye Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle.

This Andrew and Gemma Brown-owned son of Martaline lined up as the winner of two of his three starts and the most recent of those came in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse earlier this month.

A step up to two and a half miles and stiffer opposition made this an altogether different test for Grand Paradis but it was one he passed with aplomb. Jack Kennedy was exuding confidence from some way out on the 7/2 chance who led after two out en route to a 13-length triumph over the 140-rated Goodbye Someday.

“He’s a lovely horse and he wants this trip,” stated Elliott. “I’d imagine he will be too high for the Martin Pipe now but we have the likes of Fairyhouse and Punchestown and he will be an exciting horse for fences next season.”

A trip to Cheltenham is next for the Elliott stalwart Jury Duty who won his first race for two years in the hunter chase. Formerly a winner of the American Grand National and placed in the likes of the Galway Plate and the Pertemps Final, the 11/2 shot was bettering his second in a Portrush point-to-point last October.

On that occasion Jamie Codd’s mount was beaten by Winged Leader and the latter was in the process of launching a renewed – and most likely successful rally – when he crashed out at the last.

Nicely clear

This left Jury Duty nicely clear but he was all out at the line to hold Stand Up And Fight by three parts of a length. Last year’s Cheltenham winner It Came To Pass exited at the third last when towards the rear of the field. The cross country chase at Cheltenham may be next for the winner.

Codd later landed the Irish EBF-sponsored mares’ bumper aboard Mollys Glory who was making a winning debut for Michael Grassick. The 6/4 favourite showed plenty of promise in three runs for Denis Cullen, the most recent of which saw her reach the frame at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, before being purchased privately on behalf of Aidan Gleeson.

After travelling strongly to get into contention, the market leader only got the better of Premier Queen in the last stride. Mollys Glory could now take in a listed bumper at Fairyhouse over Easter.

IT was a memorable afternoon for trainer David O’Brien as he sent out his first double on the track which he shared with both Sean Flanagan and the Fastey For Fun Syndicate and this was achieved with horses who cost €1,000 and €900.

The brace got underway when the useful hurdler Minx Tiara made light of a lack of previous chasing experience to justify evens favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Chase over just short of two and three-quarter miles.

She was travelling smoothly in a share of the lead from two out and eventually cruised to a 14-length triumph over Imitation Game. A shot at Grade 3 level at Limerick in a fortnight could be next for the soft-ground-loving mare.

It was then the turn of the versatile Cusp Of Carabelli (9/2) in the two-mile handicap chase. This eight-year-old has reached the frame in several valuable pots this season from the minimum trip all the way up to just short of three miles and he deserved to get his turn as he bounced back from a rare below par run at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Cusp Of Carabelli moved ahead before the final fence for a half-length triumph over Rocky’s Silver. The latter was also demonstrating notable versatility having been placed in the Cork National over three and a half miles in the autumn.

“He had a poor run the last day but got bumped jumping off and pulled a front shoe and wasn’t letting himself down,” reported the trainer, who could freshen up his charge with a view to Galway.

There’s no Shame in a first success

THE lightly-raced Ain’t That A Shame (5/4) got off the mark on his third racecourse appearance in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle over just short of three miles.

The Robcour-owned son of Jeremy came here off a creditable third to Fun Light at Fairyhouse last month and looked to relish every yard of the trip.

Crucially, Rachael Blackmore’s mount produced better jumps at the last two flights than the pressing 11/10 favourite Churchstonewarrior.

The novice handicap hurdle over three miles at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival could be next for the winner whose rider was making it 80 victories for the campaign.

Meanwhile, Fighting Fit (6/5) shrugged aside a 9lb rise in the weights for scoring at Punchestown two months previously as he bolted up in the Connolly’s Red Mills Ladies Handicap Hurdle.

Philip Dempsey’s charge appeared to do everything at his leisure under Aine O’Connor and it was of no consequence that he wasn’t as fluent at the last as either Silk Worm or Damut as he eased clear for a smooth five-and-a-half-length triumph.

FOR the second time this week Rule 212 came to the fore with trainer Daniel Murphy hit with a €2,000 fine and his son and rider James Murphy banned for 10 days after the stewards looked into the running and riding of Winter Fog who finished fifth in the maiden won by Ain’t That A Shame. Winter Fog was also suspended for 42 days.

In the same race Jordan Canavan was suspended for a day for weighing in at 1.9lbs overweight aboard the fourth-placed Earths Furies.

A below par Limestone Rock, who pulled up in the Grade 3 won by Grand Paradis was reported to be coughing post-race.