THE lightly-raced Irancy proved best of the Closutton battalion when claiming Grade 2 honours at Fairyhouse last Sunday.

Willie Mullins sent out six of the eight runners in the Donohue Marquees Novice Hurdle and it was the J.P. McManus-owned gelding who led home four of his stablemates.

Mark Walsh produced the 5/1 shot to lead approaching the last and, despite not being fluent there, the Saddex gelding was too strong for Karniquet in the closing stages to record a length and a half win.

Racing manager Frank Berry said: “It was a good performance, he said he jumped great and the ground was nice for him. He said he was a much happier horse today, it just didn’t happen for him at Cheltenham (when seventh in the Supreme Novices’). The whole thing got to him a little bit and he didn’t perform.

“This is a lovely race to get for him and it’s nice to see him back doing something like that. I’m sure if he’s fit and well he’ll go to Punchestown for something.”

Surprise

In the other Grade 2 event on the card, the Paddy Kehoe Ceilings Novice Hurdle, Mr Percy popped up at 16/1 to land the spoils.

J.J. Slevin got a good tune out of the Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding as he swooped on the run-in to get up and beat Fleur In The Park by three parts of a length.

The Sir Percy gelding, owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, had finished mid-division on his last outing in handicap company.

Slevin said afterwards: “It’s dry ground and he didn’t mind it. He travelled very well, he missed the last and he’s done well to win. He’s not a bad horse, he’s a decent horse on the flat. It was a nice bit of placing by the lads so it’s great.”

THE most impressive performance of the day was left to last as Switch From Diesel showed a classy turn of foot to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF INH Flat Race.

Ray Barron let the 3/1 shot hit the front going to the furlong pole and she quickened away in the closing stages to record a six-length win in the listed contest.

Trainer Ross O’Sullivan said afterwards: “She’s very exciting. She’s probably as good a horse as I’ve had for a while. The plan is to go to Punchestown and then put her out on summer’s grass and go hurdling next year.

“She did an extra year in bumpers and Paul (Mullins) was keen to do that. That was his plan and he stuck to it.”

Top gear

Another mare who didn’t have to engage top gear to get the job done was Crescent Moon in the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle.

Gavin Cromwell’s charge was a well-backed 7/4 favourite and cruised into the lead two from home to post an effortless two-and-a-half-length win under Keith Donoghue. “Her work has come good lately with the sun on her back,” said Cromwell.

“I thought she had a chance here today and she showed up. We’ll see what the handicapper does and go from there.”

Patience pays off

Butcher Hollow, placed five times previously over timber, made no mistake in the opening two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle with a decisive victory.

Sean Flanagan led two from home on the Tom Cooper-trained gelding and the 9/4 shot drew clear in the closing stages to score by seven lengths.

“He deserved that, he had plenty of placed form last year,” said Cooper, who trains the winner for Ciaran Mooney.

“He’s a big three-mile novice chaser, that’s his game. He was flat out early there, he was only getting going at the finish. He doesn’t mind a bit of nice ground though.

“We’ll give him another go over hurdles and might look for something at Punchestown.”

MALBAS opened his jumping account at the 23rd attempt when making a winning start for trainer Edward Buckley in the two-mile BoyleSports Irish Handicap Hurdle.

The handler’s son Kieren was on board the well-supported 10/1 shot (50/1 in morning) and he cruised into the lead at the last before asserting on the run-in for a two-and-a-quarter-length win.

“The lads (The Finish Line Partnership) sent me this horse just after Christmas and we picked this race out a long time ago,” said Buckley.

“He’s had plenty of chances to win over hurdles and never got the job done. Myself and Kieren went through the races and had a good old chat about it and we decided to hang on to him for as long as we can. He has a turn of foot and it’s an easy finish here.

“He’s rated 77 on the flat so he’s no mug. We’ll see what he’s like tomorrow because he has a history of a little bit of lameness. He’s been fine up to now so fingers crossed.”

Back for Moore

Arthur Moore was back in the winners’ enclosure at Fairyhouse courtesy of The Miracle Man in the three-mile handicap hurdle.

Donagh Meyler produced the 11/2 shot to lead over the second last and he stayed on well in the closing stages to post a length and a quarter victory over Topgun Simmy.

“Mr (Austin) Trappe never has more than one horse. He’s with me 25 years and they’ve all won a race somewhere along the line; this might prove to be the best one,” said Moore.

“He’s a tough horse, he’s from that Carrigeen family and they stay. He seems to like that ground. At one stage I was thinking we might let him off but we’ll keep him going for a while.”