LECKY Watson outshone Slade Steel, when making an impressive winning start over fences at Naas on Monday.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding had chased home his rival in Grade 2 company over timber at Navan last December and turned the tables over the larger obstacles.

Paul Townend got some fine leaps from the son of Valirann and he found plenty when tackled by the favourite at the final fence. 10/3 shot Lecky Watson stayed on stoutly up the hill to record a length-and-a-quarter success for the Slaneyville Syndicate.

“That was a good performance, I’m delighted how he jumped and settled in front. It looks like a big improvement on his hurdling form,” said Mullins afterwards.

“Fences are bringing out improvement in him and I’m very happy with that. His attitude to jumping was tremendous as well. Paul was very happy with it and I was very happy watching.

“He seemed to be able to put in quick ones and take a flier when he wanted. Generally, for a horse first time over fences, it was a very good first start. Paul was giving me the impression that he wouldn’t be afraid to go further.”

One-two for Mullins

Mullins had a strong hand in the Gener8 Engineering Mares Maiden Hurdle on the card, with French import Karoline Banbou going to post a strongly supported 1/2 favourite.

She had no answer to the flying finish of stablemate Baby Kate, however, as the 4/1 shot found another gear late on for Brian Hayes.

The daughter of Augusta Kate looked booked for third jumping the last, but dug deep in the closing stages to get up for a length-and-a-quarter success for the Gorm Agus Ban Syndicate.

“That was great, she looked beaten, but once she pulled out and got daylight, Brian said she just got her second wind and away with her,” said Mullins.

“I’m very pleased with her, because I think the other mare is good, two nice mares, first and second. At this stage of the year, everything has to step up into graded company, there’s not much left, but it’ll be after the New Year.”

HENRY de Bromhead gained some compensation later, as Scope To Improve made a highly impressive track debut in the concluding bumper.

John Gleeson gave the four-year-old a confident ride, as he held his mount up out the back before making stylish progress in the straight. The point-to-point winner led a furlong and a half from home and soon asserted to record a three-and-a-quarter-length success.

“That was very impressive. He settled really well, which was important,” said stable representative Robbie Power afterwards.

“John gave him a lovely ride, he crept away on him. He showed plenty of boot in the straight, he got there very easily. I’m delighted for Paddy and Mary (Hale, owners), he’s a nice horse to look forward to.”

Power also reflected on the run of Slade Steel, saying: “I thought he ran very well. I was delighted with his jumping. There were no excuses today and maybe on softer ground he’s a better horse.”

Chaser in the making

Ted Walsh could test the waters at the highest level with Shuffle The Deck, after a convincing win for the Walk In The Park gelding in the GavinLynchRacing.com Maiden Hurdle.

The J.P. McManus-owned gelding went to post 5/4 joint-favourite to add to his point-to-point win back in March.

Mark Walsh sent his mount to the front after the second last in the two-mile, three-furlong contest and he stayed on stoutly up the hill to beat Easter Legend by three and a quarter lengths.

“He did it nicely. He stays and jumps,” said Walsh. “He looks like a horse that will make a nice chaser. His first run was a goodish run and it looks like he’s improved a bit from that. Hopefully, he goes on to be a nice horse, lots of horses win a maiden hurdle.

“I’ve had a few nice novices over the years and I’d say he’s as good as we’ve had at this stage, but he has a long way to go. He’s entered in the Lawlor’s (Of Naas Novice Hurdle) and he’ll probably run there, unless they have something better.”

Double green on the scoreboard

The other maiden hurdle on the card, was for unplaced horses and Danny Mullins praised the race planning of trainer Stuart Crawford, following his victory on Interchangeable.

Mullins carried the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede on the Jack Hobbs gelding, who came to dispute on the run-in and edged a good duel with Hills Of Glory for a short-head win.

The winning rider said of the 11/2 winner: “It was a good bit of training by Stuart and the boys.

“I rode this fella in Navan and thought he jumped slow. The run over two miles the last day probably sharpened him up a bit more. He jumped and carried me throughout the race today.”

THE Philip Dempsey-trained Hillsdale made a big impression on his first outing in handicap company over fences, when taking the Kieron Gammel Naas Member Handicap Chase in fine style.

Jordan Gainford produced the 11/1 shot to lead before the last and he quickened away on the run-in to post an easy 11-length success in Brian Pierce’s colours.

“That was great. He jumped well, bar one, and he did it very well,” said Dempsey. “He just took a long time to get the hang of it, but we’re delighted with him.

“He’s a bit mad and he’s not an easy ride. Jordan has ridden him before and had two falls off him over hurdles. It’s not that he doesn’t jump, but he just takes his eye off it. He settled well today, they went very fast, and he came home well. I was surprised, he was very good.

“He’s probably going to get a fair hike for that, as he won far enough. He looks an exciting enough horse on that.”

First for Staples

Patience also paid off with Royal Time, as he took the John Thomas McNamara Series Handicap Hurdle for Shane Crawley.

Eoin Staples, riding his first track winner, led two from home on the Court Cave gelding and he held the late challenge of Added Bonus to secure a neck success at odds of 12/1.

“I’m delighted with that,” said Crawley. “I don’t really follow the point-to-points, but I was asking Karl Thornton who is a good young lad and he said that this lad could ride. He was right.

“It was a very cool ride. It’s his first winner on the track, but he has seven winners this season pointing. The horse jumped very well, he just made a mess of the last, but stayed on well. It’s brilliant for owner Eamonn Kane, who is a decent man.”