HENRY de Bromhead’s yard has returned to form in recent weeks, following a quiet spell and the Knockeen trainer received a further boost ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, when Champagne Mahler landed the featured €45,000 Holden Plant Rentals Shamrock Handicap Chase.

Hgranca De Thaix set a strong early pace before dropping away after halfway and Champagne Mahler struck the front early in the straight of this two-mile.

The 7/2 shot stayed on strongly under Darragh O’Keeffe to draw clear on the run-in for an eight lengths verdict over Rebel Gold, with Miss Pronunciation a further five and a half lengths back in third.

“He loves that ground. He won a handicap hurdle here on Thyestes day last year and we always hoped he would be a better chaser,” said de Bromhead, who trains the seven-year-old for the BM Partnership.

“The horses are starting to run a bit better now, which is great. We had a frustrating six weeks, but they are coming through it.”

Jack is back

Jack Kennedy partnered his first winner since returning recently from injury, as Grimaud justified 8/13 favouritism in the Golf Classics At Gowran Park Maiden Hurdle.

Trained by Gordon Elliott for David L’Estrange, the Zoffany gelding was gaining a deserved win after making the frame on his previous three hurdle outings and was driven out to assert in the closing stages for a four-length verdict over Captain Ryan Matt.

“It’s nice to get a winner before next week. He had the form to do that and it’s nice for him to get off the mark,” said Kennedy before adding, “he wouldn’t mind the ground a bit better. It’s very testing (officially soft to heavy) and he did well to get through it.”

IT was a landmark afternoon for Tallow trainer Daniel O’Brien, who won with his very first runner under rules, as My Best Valentine made most to take the IHHSC Supporting Point-To-Points Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase.

The 12/1 chance stayed on strongly on the run-in under Stefan Tobin, partnering his second winner, to beat Step Up Son by six and a half lengths.

“She’s a tough, honest mare that loves jumping and loves galloping. That’s the first day that she’s had to battle, but she did,” said owner/trainer O’Brien.

“She’s won five point-to-points, and we probably should have come to the track sooner, but she’s had a few little problems. She’s a soft ground mare, the only winner I’ve had in point-to-points and, hopefully, we’ll get more.”

Whimsical

Whimsy, a three-time winner on the flat, ended a frustrating sequence of places over hurdles in some style, when storming clear from two out for Oakley Brown to beat Innatendue by 21 lengths in the Lord Bagenal Hotel Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.

The Rita Shah-owned 9/4 favourite was again reluctant to line-up and lost ground at the start, but eventually got to the front three out as trainer Anthony McCann, who went down to the start, explained: “I went to the start to make sure she jumped off. We wanted to make the running, but it didn’t work out.

“Oakley said she found another leg once she turned in. She loves that ground, so I was glad to see all the rain coming. We might get something at Fairyhouse for her and, if the ground is heavy, it would be ideal.”

The Diva does it for Enright

THE Phillip Enright-ridden John The Diva (6/1) added to a maiden win at Thurles last year, when just getting the better of Smackwater Jack by a neck in the BoyleSports Money Back On Every Race At Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle.

“He’s a grand horse and loves heavy ground. He’s 12lb higher over fences, so we came back over hurdles and my brother Paul owns him along with a group of lads,” said Carrick-on-Suir trainer Martin Cahill. Enright had to settle for the runner-up spot on Brilliant Question in the HPR Fleet Management Handicap Hurdle, where Battle Of Ridgeway went clear from before the last under Liam McKenna to score by an easy nine lengths.

“He was still going well coming to the second last here the last day over fences, but he ran with the choke out and didn’t get home. He was a lot more relaxed today and was coming back in trip,” said Martin Hassett, who trains the 10/1 winner for David O’Mahoney Electrical Services Ltd. “He’s a real chaser, but was always a moral to win a race over hurdles off his mark.”

Fatal blow

The best was probably saved for last as Ksar Fatal, trained for Tim O’Driscoll by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick, added to a Curraghmore point-to-point win for Donnchadh Doyle, when easily beating King’s Bucks by nine lengths in the two-mile, two-furlong ‘Doc’s Bumper’ INH Flat Race.

“He’s a nice horse by Buck’s Boum, sire of Al Boum Photo, and he has a similar type of trait - he gallops and jumps well at home,” said the champion trainer.

“Conditions are tough out there and he’s a staying type. I’d imagine we’ll give him another run before the end of the season, and we’ll try to find a two-and-a-half-mile bumper. It’s nice to win the Doc (Brendan Doyle)’s bumper and all his family are here.”