KISS Will made a big impression on his Irish debut at Fairyhouse on Thursday. The French import went to post a 4/11 shot in the two-mile maiden hurdle on the card on his first outing since joining Willie Mullins.

Paul Townend kept things simple on the Tunis gelding, bouncing out in front and making the running. He appeared set for a facile victory until a blunder at the final flight, but recovered to post an easy 13-length success over the running on Costacurta.

Townend reflected on the error afterwards, saying: “He’ll have to learn how to do that as well, if he’s going to be a good horse, he’s going to have to jump at speed. He found a leg, which was good.

“It was a match from the time we jumped off and I had the better of that turning in. He lengthened well up the straight. He showed a little bit more of a turn of foot than I thought.

“I liked what he did, it was out and getting experience as much as anything today. He’ll be an exciting horse and have a future.”

Paddy Power made the winner a 16/1 shot for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Townend went on to complete a double for his boss, when Cheltenham Bumper fifth Fishery Lane opened his jumping account in the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle.

Bryan Drew’s Gemix gelding was to the fore throughout and the 10/11 favourite stayed on well from the last to beat Grimaud by four and a half lengths.

“He’s a strong stayer, I’d say – that would be my opinion of him,” reported the winning rider.

“He got experience jumping and he probably wants it. He’ll be improving on the job. I’d be going up rather than back in trip.”

PHILIP Rothwell was another to bag a double on the card, courtesy of Workinonadream and Duffys Hodey. The former gained a deserved success in the HAY ‘How Are Ya’ Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Tiernan Power Roche produced the 9/4 shot with a strong run to lead after the second last and she kept on strongly in the closing stages to beat Swing Davis by four and a quarter lengths.

“That’s fantastic. Ivan and Thomas (Sutton), two brothers, own her and bred her. They live about two miles over the road from here,” said Rothwell.

“That mare has been running so consistently well, she really deserved it today. We might try and find a blacktype mares handicap to see if we could sneak a little bit of placed blacktype with her, as the lads will probably breed from her.”

Perfect judgment

Duffys Hodey went to post 5/2 favourite in the concluding Treo Eile Handicap Hurdle and had to reel in Blue Reed after that rival built up a massive lead early on in the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

Power Roche judged things perfectly, as he came from well off the pace to lead on the run-in and record a five-and-a-half-length success.

“That’s fantastic. I thought he ran well at Limerick in Christmas and Tiernan was a big asset to him today,” said Rothwell.

“Tiernan’s 7lb is invaluable, he rides very well and I’m very lucky to have him on the team. It was very hard for him to sit where he was there and ride the race he did, but he did it.

“I would hate to come up against the second horse again over two miles, he would have won a furlong!”

GAVIN Cromwell was back in the winners’ enclosure again at Fairyhouse, having saddled a four-timer at the previous meeting, when Springt De La Mare claimed the opening beginners chase.

Keith Donoghue came with a strong run to lead before the last on the 2/1 shot and he kept on strongly in the closing stages to score by a length and three-quarters over Theatre Native.

“He couldn’t win a hurdle race, but he jumped very well for his first run over fences and he just looks like a chaser,” said Cromwell of the Alymer Stud-owned gelding.

“I’ve no plan, we’ll see what the handicapper does and maybe look at a novice handicap.”

Fine form

Philip Dempsey is another trainer enjoying a fine run and was on the mark again when Clonbury Bridge claimed the two-mile, five-furlong handicap chase.

Charlie O’Dwyer led two from home on the 11/2 shot and he was always holding Wine And Dine late on to record a length success.

“That was great. He’s a great little horse and the lads (CJ & T Syndicate) have had some fun with him,” said Dempsey. He had a lovely run in Navan, he really ran well over two miles (when fifth). Gavin Cromwell’s horse that won it, Midnight It Is, ran well in the Dan Moore here the other day.”

Fortunate son

Find A Fortune made the breakthrough on his return to action, having run up a sequence of placed efforts last year. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding went to post a 10/3 shot in the rated novice hurdle and was produced to lead after the second last by Danny Gilligan.

He was a touch slow over the last, but galloped on well to beat Palamon by two and a half lengths. “We thought he’d need the run to be honest,” said Elliott.

“We only stuck him in at five to 10 because the race was cutting up. He looked big enough for one of ours walking around the ring.

“It’s great for Aidan (Ryan), who is a big supporter of the yard, it’s nice to get a winner for him. He’ll go chasing at some stage, we’ll keep him going as he’ll handle better ground.”