FOR the second year in succession, Gordon Elliott and Lisa O’Neill worked the oracle in the Guinness Kerry National as Potters Point belied any concerns about the testing ground or his relative lack of experience to win the Harvest Festival showpiece.

Twelve months ago Lisa O’Neill was poise and polish personified as she got Wrath Of Titans home in front. In the interim she had bagged a Cheltenham Festival success on Tiger Roll and yet again she showed just why Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud are more than happy to turn to her when it comes to the big stage.

For his part Potters Point (8/1) lined up looking to build on a conditions chase victory at Tramore last month. The seven-year-old won on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse in April and, during a reasonably busy summer campaign he had shown definite signs of progress. However, in making a winning handicap chase debut off a mark of 139 he was taking his form to a new level and he could well spearhead his trainer’s assault on some of the season’s major staying handicaps.

In the race itself Potters Point looked like one of the most seasoned members of the line-up as he jumped impeccably. A series of quick leaps carried him ever closer to the front on the final circuit. From the third last the Robin Des Champs gelding was vying for the lead with Bay Of Freedom and he was going easily at this stage but his work was far from done.

As the leaders faced up to the last two fences the winner had to dig in under pressure and he did so gamely to eventually master Bay Of Freedom. At the final fence it looked as though he might succumb to fellow Gigginstown runner Arkwrisht, whose rider lost his irons at the previous fence, but he found extra reserves on the run-in to hold on by half a length. Bay Of Freedom was an honourable third with the English raider Viva Steve fourth. The 6/1 joint favourites A Toi Phil and Arbre De Vie were fifth and seventh respectively.

“Last year we came here with a few good chances but I was more hopeful than confident this time around and I was very worried about the ground for him,” said Elliott. “Lisa is a great bit of stuff. She’s very plucky and gave him a great ride and the horse showed a lot of guts for her as well. He was very game when he needed to be.

“Before this horse won in Fairyhouse he had a wind operation and that does look to have made a difference to him. In time he might be a National horse but he’s a novice until December so we will consider our options. Maybe after December we’ll look at some of the big handicaps with him. Michael O’Leary has a lot of faith in Lisa. She’s been very lucky for Gigginstown and he was keen for her to ride this horse.”

Afterwards a delighted Lisa O’Neill reflected: “I didn’t think that lightning would strike twice but it’s great to be here again. It’s a privilege to be part of such a big team and getting opportunities in races like this. The horse just took me into the race with the way he jumped. He probably got there a bit soon but he battled very well for me.”

Andrew Ring picked up a two-day whip ban for his efforts on the second.

REST OF the card

THE talented Riven Light, who has progressed notably well since switching back to the flat during the summer, is set for an autumn campaign in Australia following his latest victory in the Edmund & Josie Whelan Memorial Listowel Stakes.

The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old will be heading straight to Newmarket to go into quarantine following this race. His two efforts at Ballybrit suggested that a step up to group class was within his range and he duly took advantage of a good opportunity in this nine-furlong listed race.

A possible clash with wondermare Winx in the Group 1 Cox Plate will be a long way removed from this test but the 11/8 favourite took this prize in assured fashion. He coped well with the testing ground and picked up nicely for Kevin Manning to take charge entering the last furlong. As is his wont, the Susannah Ricci-owned gelding idled in front, which allowed the returning Zawraq - on his first outing for 11 months – to close to within three-parts of a length at the line. The last-named performed very well on just his second run since landing the 2000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown two years ago.

Willie Mullins went on to enjoy a double as the promising Fabulous Saga (8/13) trounced his two rivals in the Ballygarry House Hotel Novice Hurdle to stay unbeaten over timber. The wide-margin Ballinrobe winner made all the running for Ruby Walsh and they had this two and a half-mile contest in the bag from some way out. At the line the Sullivan Bloodstock-owned gelding had 20 lengths to spare over Young Turk.

“He’s a relentless galloper and he’s handled that ground well,” reflected Walsh.

All The Mollies (10/1), who was picked up for €10,000 from a Ballinrobe claimer during the summer, registered her first success for Dot Love in the Exchange Inn Ballybunion & Kevin Broderick’s Bar Listowel Handicap. In the straight the Go Golfin Syndicate-owned winner first saw off Butoolat and then held on by a neck from the oncoming Keep Believing.

“She had two very good runs for us before today and it really helped that she handles that ground,” reflected assistant trainer Ciaran Murphy. “We might now look at going to Galway next week.”

In first-time blinkers the well-backed 6/1 chance Grey Willow returned to the promise she showed on her first few runs to take the Listowel Arms Handicap. Carrying the colours of Joe Murphy’s stalwart patron Tom Egan, the Gary Carroll-ridden filly responded well to pressure to sweep to the front entering the last furlong and she kept on strongly from Galtymore.

“She’s a filly we’ve always liked. Her last couple of runs were disappointing but she’s come back to herself in the last few weeks and she is a tall filly so maybe she just needed some time,” reported Murphy. “She liked that ground and she might even get a bit further than this mile. I don’t think we’ll see the best of her until she’s four.”

Charles Byrnes made it two winners in as many days with the Davy Russell-ridden Wonder Laish (1/2) in the MSD Animal Health Maiden Hurdle. The previous afternoon Byrnes and owner Martin White were gifted victory in a beginners chase but this was altogether more straightforward.

Wonder Laish, who was rated 94 at his peak on the flat, was making his hurdling debut and had still to come off the bridle nearing the final flight. A clumsy jump there by the favourite saw the momentum swing back in favour of Iusetoluvheronce but Russell only needed to shake the reins for the five-year-old to assert late on.

“He loves that ground and I was pleased to see him settle so well as he can be a little keen. Apart from the last he jumped well and he’ll go for a novice hurdle next,” declared Byrnes.

Cork-based trainer Victor Clifford sent out his first winner for two years as the 10-year-old Hurricane Twister sprang a 16/1 surprise in the Seamus Mulvaney Handicap. A career-low rating of 53, heavy ground and his favoured forcing tactics brought about a major resurgence. Hurricane Twister set a brisk pace under Sean Davis but he maintained that gallop as he shook off Nannys Well to score by five lengths.

Trainer Thomas Cummins achieved a lifelong ambition of a Listowel Festival winner as James Eclipse secured the Listowel Vintners Association Flat Race. A first winner in three years for Cummins, the gelding made all the running under Sheila Ahern.

This provided the James O’Gorman-owned and bred 8/1 chance with ample compensation for his narrow defeat at Bellewstown last month.

ACTING STEWARDS

S. McDonogh, J. Powell, J.P. Barry, O. Kearney, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW:

ZAWRAQ (D.K. Weld): This lightly-raced five-year-old’s first run since last October saw him finish a fine second to Riven Light in the listed race and he can be placed to win a decent race this autumn.