WILLIE Mullins won both Grade 2 chases on the Cork card with Concertista (161) making a winning start to her chasing career before stablemate Energumene (161) made a flying start to his season with a first win in open company when winning the Hilly Way Chase.

In similar fashion to the comparison of Allaho and Ferny Hollow, the pace in the Hilly Way Chase was strong early and slow late as the mares finished off a good deal faster following a slower early pace.

On joining the races from the first fence in the straight, the initial difference was negligible but after passing the winning post Shane Fitzgerald aboard Notebook and Sean O’Keefe on Energumene were hard on the accelerator pedal initially reaching the first fence on the circuit 3.2 seconds ahead.

Jumped fluently

The gap between the races grew further over the fences down the back straight as both jumped fluently, the difference at the fence before the straight was 6.1 seconds or a staggering 30 lengths.

Understandably perhaps, Notebook was a spent force entering the straight while the winner ploughed on regardless of his exertions to win easily.

Concertista posted a closing sectional from the last in the back straight of 92.9 seconds and would have eventually crossed the line at the same time as her stablemate in the shortened race and when comparing the overall race time. For reference, Energumene closed in 99.5 seconds.

Shock defeat

Team Mullins also held high hopes of a double over hurdles in the two divisions of the maiden hurdle until Kilcruit suffered a shock defeat at 1/14 on his hurdles debut, albeit Dysart Dynamo sparkled on his first foray over obstacles and won in the style of an exciting prospect.

Given the credentials Kilcruit (131) brought into the race, it looks a disappointing result.

However, the time-figure was highly respectable and it may be better to take the view that the Grade 1 bumper winner was beaten by a very good horse in Largy Debut (141) who was returning from a 21-month absence.

The overall race time was the fastest on the day and Henry de Bromhead’s recent recruit also matched the exciting Dysart Dynamo in a shortened race from the first hurdle in the home straight with a circuit to run.

The closing sectional honours were claimed by Dysart Dynamo (141) who stopped the clock at 88.1 seconds from the last hurdle in the back straight compared to Largy Debut’s 90.5 seconds.

Saturday’s Navan card belonged to Gordon Elliott as he saddled seven of the eight winners on an afternoon to remember.

Standout

The standout performance of the seven-timer was Riviere D’Etel (160) who clocked the fastest novice chase time of the season so far in beating Take All (150) easily in the Grade 3 Klairon Davis Novice Chase.

The difference between the overall race times when adjusted for distance was impressive enough before the ingredient of the split screen comparison adds another dimension.

Allowing for the respective races to gather stride, the comparison starts from the middle fence in the straight with Riviere D’Etel already in front in her contest jumping accurately.

The fact Embittered was under pressure before the end of the back straight was an indication of the strong pace which was confirmed by Gordon Elliott’s filly reaching the last in the back straight a full eight seconds or 40-lengths ahead of the either the leader in the beginners’ chase or handicap respectively.

To complete the job, she posted a faster closing section from the same fence as she stopped the clock at 98.5 seconds compared to Conflated (125) (99.2) and Farouk D’Alene (125) (100.1) in winning easily.

Riviere D’Etel looks a Grade 1 winner in the making, while the Grade 3 was so superior all but the fading Embittered crossed the line in advance of the other two chases in the shortened race and are worthy of a tracker entry.