HENRY de Bromhead has his sights set on Aintree with Koktail Divin, after the Masked Marvel gelding opened his hurdling account in fine style at Leopardstown on Monday.

The Barry Maloney-owned gelding went to post an 8/11 shot in the two and a half mile maiden and the result never looked in doubt.

Rachael Blackmore was prominent throughout on her mount and he was asked to go about his business before the last flight, quickening clear for a cosy six-length success over Champagne Kid.

“I’m delighted with that. He had a lovely run at Christmas, but I probably messed up when we were under the weather in January,” said de Bromhead.

“I dropped back in trip, wrongly. I was always going for another race and then he wasn’t eligible. It’s lovely to see him go and do that today.

“I’m delighted for the Maloneys, Barry and Aileen are here, so it’s great. I’d say we’ll aim him at Aintree now.”

He holds an entry in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, but de Bromhead added: “We won’t do that, we made that decision the other day. We’ll have a look at Aintree, there are some nice races there for him.”

Barnahash Primrose is also set to test the waters in better company, after her win in the mares’ maiden hurdle on the card.

Some trouble

The Jonathan Sweeney-trained mare had to overcome some trouble in running in the two-and-a-half mile contest, before squeezing through to lead before the last.

Brian Hayes’ mount soon asserted on the run-in to post a comprehensive eight-and-a-half length win over 8/11 favourite Qualimita.

“That was great. It’s been a stop-start kind of season with small niggly things all the way along,” said Sweeney of Kathleen and Michael O’Connor’s mare.

“We probably had an extra man on her back with Michael O’Sullivan, he came into me a lot. It’s just an awful tragedy.

“A lot of things went wrong for her in the race. At the start, she nearly went out through the wing. She’s an honest mare.

“Her mother won the Shannon Spray in Limerick, but it may come a bit quick in 10 days’ time, we’ll see how she comes out of it. Maybe she could go to Fairyhouse for the Grade 1.”

A LATE dash to Leopardstown proved fruitful for Maid On The Moon and Hannah Phillips, as the Liz Lalor-trained mare gave the amateur her first ‘track’ winner in the QuinnBet Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The 20/1 shot was sent for home after the third last in the two-and-a-half mile contest. She was strongly pressed by Goodie Girl going to the last, but that rival’s fall left her clear to score by 14 lengths.

Phillips had previously won a point-to-point on Tom Keating’s mare and she revealed afterwards: “About 9.40 this morning, we got a call saying that William McLernon’s mare was out and we could travel up. We left about half 10 and it was tight getting up, but we got here and we’re delighted.

Good bit left

“She was jumping and travelling and I was happy with her. I felt I had a good bit left in the tank, so I said I’d kick on for home, as I know she stays.

“She’s given me some brilliant experiences, riding in a few graded races and listed races. I might never get the chance to do that again, so it’s brilliant.

“Dad (Mick) is very well-known. I come from a very racey background, mum and dad were both jockeys so it was kind of bred into me and I absolutely love it.

“I’m based with Tom Keating every day and I’m getting on well.”

Amateur success

Jack Hendrick, fresh from registering his 100th winner in point-to-points, was another amateur to shine in the John Thomas McNamara Handicap Chase.

He produced the Paul Nolan-trained Secrecies Of Stone with a smooth run to lead before the last in the two-mile-five contest and record an easy eight-and-a-half length win over long-time leader Nephin Beg.

It was a first success over fences for the Walk In The Park gelding and Nolan said of the 4/1 winner: “Jack kept him happy all the way. He said he liked being wide, he doesn’t seem to like the hustle and bustle of things.

“Probably because of the room that he needs, these galloping tracks suit him well.

“He won easy in the end. He’s rated 102 there and he’ll probably get a whack for that. I’m just glad that he went and did it.

“He might get into the bottom of something nice at Fairyhouse or somewhere like that.”

Late charge

In the other amateur event on the card, Patrick Cody conjured a late charge from Moon Eclipse, as the Joseph O’Brien-trained mare made a winning debut in the concluding bumper.

The daughter of Getaway was towards the rear early in the two-miler, but the 5/1 shot picked up well in the straight to get up close home for a half-length win over Oldschool Outlaw.

The winning rider said: “She was too green early on to even ride a race. The further I was going, the more the penny was dropping and she finished out strong.

“She could be a nice filly going forward, she has a good attitude. Her full-sister won a bumper here, Lunar Display, and she was a listed filly. Hopefully, she can follow in her footsteps.”,

JORDAN Gainford notched a quick double on the card, courtesy of Birmingham Alabama and Golden Joy.

He had to overcome traffic on the former, when getting up late on to land the QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle.

The Eamon Delany-trained mare was shuffled back after the third last, but powered home from the last to get up for a head victory in a three-way finish from The Miracle Man and Mellem.

Assistant Alan Delany said: “I was a bit concerned coming across the line, because I thought we were nodded, but it’s great.

Delighted

“Coming here we were fairly hopeful. The last day, she just didn’t handle the ground.

“It was a fair performance carrying 12st 1lb over three miles. I’m delighted with that.

“We’ll probably go with her to Fairyhouse at Easter time, there are a couple of races there that might suit.”

Things proved more straightforward for Gainford on the Gordon Elliott-trained Golden Joy in the following Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.

The Robcour-owned gelding led from the fourth fence in the two-mile, one-furlong contest and jumped well, kicking clear after the second last to post a five-and-a-half length win over Lisnagar Fortune.

Elliott said of the 9/2 winner: “I say the good ground suited him. He jumped great and Jordan gave him a great ride. I was delighted with him there. We’ll pick and choose where we go with him.”