RACHAEL Blackmore returned to domestic action on Saturday with one mount at Thurles and it proved a winner.

A day after her Gold Cup heroics at Cheltenham, Blackmore was mobbed by fans at the Co Tipperary track. She didn't disappoint them when steering her sole ride of the day, Gentlemansgame, to success in the Carey Glass Hurdle.

Blackmore reflected on a remarkable week that saw her take the Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle for the second year running and become the first woman to ride the winner of the Gold Cup, going one place better than last year with A Plus Tard.

“I feel tired, and that’s the first thing that comes to mind! You’re tired because you can’t sleep with excitement and it was an incredible week,” she said.

“I feel so lucky and it is hard to comprehend. I’m getting to ride a lot of very good horses and Honeysuckle and A Plus Tard this week were incredible – steering them around was an easy task.

“You’d be an alien if you didn’t feel the pressure on Honeysuckle. However, that’s the type of pressure you want, as it means you’re heading to Cheltenham with a chance. It’s great when it works out.

“I was happy with her through the race, and while she maybe didn’t travel as well during the race and I was a little wider than I wanted, to be honest you can do anything on her. She always finds a way out of trouble and when you do ask her to go, she finds an extra gear.

“Walking back into the parade ring, the sound never let up and it was just black with people everywhere.”

She added “A Plus Tard landed after the last and picked up incredibly. I wanted to ride him differently than last year and I didn’t want to be upsides Minella Indo again.

“I was in behind a few more horses than I wanted but was where I wanted to be and it’s great when it works out.”

On song

Of today's Thurles winner Gentlemansgame, winning trainer Mouse Morris said, "The horse was on song today and loves that ground. I'm just waiting to go over fences with him. He got injured for a while but is straightforward and his hurdles form was savage. I've no great plans for him until he goes over fences."

Morris and owners Robcour had earlier landed the Grade 3 Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase on the card with French Dynamite.

Ciel De Niege looked certain to take his winning run to four when he jumped the last with a handy lead but persistence paid off for Darragh O’Keeffe.

He did not give up on French Dynamite (9/4) and the Mouse Morris-trained seven-year-old stayed on to such good effect that he snatched the verdict by a nose.

Morris said: “What’s seldom is wonderful! It is nice to see him back and that ground suits him. He jumped well.

“I have no plans and will speak with the owners and see what they want to do.”

He added “The horses have been running well, but had been hitting the crossbar, although they are just moderate. The two in Cheltenham ran well.

“I have a couple of nice four-year-olds and there are a few which have run well and been placed, so hopefully they can improve. Unfortunately I don’t have 500 grand to spend.”

Fairyhouse target

Max Flamingo booked his Irish Grand National ticket in landing the odds to get off the mark over fences in the Horse & Jockey Beginners’ Chase.

The seven-year-old brushed aside his main market rival Bacardys after leading three out to get the verdict by three-quarters of a length under Denis O’Regan.

Max Flamingo (4/7 favourite) was back meeting the opposition on equal terms after running in competitive handicaps at Leopardstown on his two previous starts. This was his easiest task as he had previously finished fourth to Fury Road in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Chase, also at Leopardstown, in December.

Trained by Francis Casey, Max Flamingo put his experience to good use in a race that was reduced to four runners after two late withdrawals.

The first two were far too good for the other two with 35 lengths back to Fest Deiz in third.

“His whole plan is the Irish National and he is entered. The weights are out next week, but he is rated 142 and should get in,” said Casey.

“I don’t know if this will affect his handicap mark or not, but I don’t think the second horse is a 142-rated horse so he probably ran to his mark.

“I didn’t really want to win our beginners’ chase at this time of year, but we were disappointed with his jumping the last day so we said we’d go for this. Denis said he loved the ground but wouldn’t want it any quicker.

“He’ll run in the Irish National next and us small men have to dream big!”