SHUFFLE The Deck got back on track at Naas on Thursday with a cosy success in the Colm White Bookmakers Rated Novice Hurdle.

The Ted Walsh-trained gelding had won his maiden hurdle at the venue in December before struggling when pitched into Grade 1 company subsequently.

J.P. McManus’s five-year-old was easy to back in the two-miler, going to post a 5/1 shot, but proved a class above his rivals. Jody McGarvey produced the top-weight to lead two from home and he asserted before the final flight to post a three-length success over Casheldale Lad.

“I was hoping to go to Fairyhouse or Punchestown and whether he’ll run there depends on the ground,” said Walsh afterwards.

“He’s a big horse with a future in front of him, he’s a great leaper. He won a point-to-point and I’d say he’ll make a nice three-mile chaser. I was surprised to see him win over two, which is always a good sign.”

McManus doubled up a couple of races later, when the Des McDonogh-trained In For The Night got up late to land the Mulvaney Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.

Aidan Kelly held the 11/1 shot up in the early stages before producing him to press King In Love at the last. The Champs Elysees gelding stayed on best to prevail close home by half a length.

“He gave it a great ride, it was absolute perfection. He did everything he was told,” said McDonogh afterwards.

When asked if the better ground was a help, he added: “Huge, he had to pull up the last day in Fairyhouse, as he couldn’t even jump out of it. He ran last year in Galway and was ninth jumping the last hurdle and was just beat in second. I think he’d love the hill and plenty of pace.”

HARRY Kelly was ‘delighted with the day’ after saddling a double courtesy of Black Heather and Kiln Time. The former was an impressive winner on his jumping debut in the second division of the Pat O’Hare Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle.

Cian Quirke went to the front at the third hurdle on the Lauro gelding and the 4/1 shot skipped clear two from home for an easy 10-length success.

“He’s a horse that we think an awful lot of, he has wicked gears,” said Kelly of Finbar O’Reilly’s gelding.

“He’s in on Saturday at Bellewstown, in a mile-and-a-half flat maiden. He didn’t look to be too extended there, so I’d say we’ll probably have a crack at that.”

Kiln Time was 10 times the price when springing a 40/1 shock in the Sean Graham Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle. Quirke was again in the plate, but came late this time as the John Bowe-owned gelding powered home on the run-in to collar Cullig and record a neck success.

Kelly said: “Thanks to John and Michael for supporting me, they are great supporters and we’re having a bit of luck together. This horse just has his kinks, it’s just about the day he decides to go.

“Cian just knocks a tune out of horses and is fantastic. He maybe struggled with his wind in heavy ground and Cian thought the better ground helped him.”

President ready to Party

Owner/rider Adam Leahy had much better fortune on his return to Naas, when guiding Party President to victory in the Franco Hughes Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle.

The amateur had suffered a broken hip when his mount had flipped over in the parade ring at the venue in December, but was all smiles on his return after securing his first racecourse win.

Tony Mullins’s charge came with a strong surge on the run-in to secure a length and a quarter in the two-miler.

“I thought the ground would improve him, but I didn’t think it would improve him that much,” said Mullins.

“He’s not a bad horse, he’s a little difficult.

“He’s a fine big horse and he’ll do more than that. I’m not saying he’ll be going to Cheltenham or anything, but he’s going to do more than that.”

CO ANTRIM handler Paul Traynor was delighted with the performance of Fiver Friday, as she made a winning start over timber in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.

The smart flat performer went to post an 8/1 shot in the two-miler, but proved too strong for Ma Belle Etoile when leading after the last, for Liam McKenna, and posting a two-and-three-quarter-length win.

“We were coming here with a nice run in mind,” said Traynor, who trains the filly for Philip Gilmore.

“She had the class to be involved, but she just had to learn to settle and jump. We’ll keep her hurdling for the first half of the season and then we’ll see what’s there on the flat.”

Zoffman is another likely to mix it during the summer, after opening his account over timber in the first division of the Pat O’Hare Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle.

Noel Meade’s charge came to dispute at the last, under Donagh Meyler, and went on from Kara Sacre in the closing stages to post a three-and-a-quarter-length win at odds of 7/2.

“Good things come in small parcels!” said Meade of James Owens’ diminutive gelding.

“He’ll mix it and I’m hoping he might get one of the good flat handicaps somewhere during the summer. I’m sure the better ground will be a help to him.”

Poignant win

Amateur Alan O’Sullivan continued a fine season, when partnering Jamada to a game success in the concluding bumper on the card.

The John Queally-trained gelding fought it out with 8/11 favourite Ifallgoeswell from the two marker and the 5/1 shot got the better of his rival in the closing stages to post a half-length win.

O’Sullivan, carrying the colours of Michael Ryan said: “He’s a lovely horse. Fair play to the lads as they had him in great nick.

“It means a lot to ride a winner for John Queally, as he was very good to Michael and they had luck together down through the years. I’ve had a good few weeks. I’m getting great opportunities, riding for really good people, and I’m very lucky really.”