FIVE lined up for the Bluegrass Stamm 30 Steeplechase and the Willie Mullins-trained pair Classic Getaway and Adamantly Chosen came to the fore at the second last in the three-mile-two-furlong contest. The former, odds-on favourite under Paul Townend, could find no more from there as Adamantly Chosen (3/1) stayed on well to beat fellow Grand National-entrant Roi Mage by 12 lengths.

It was a first success since October 2022 for the seven-year-old who is owned by the Watch This Space Syndicate. Winning rider Sean O’Keeffe said: “I think the horse enjoyed maybe going a gear slower than he had been in the good handicaps. Hopefully into the spring on nicer ground, he will be better again.”

St Denis’s Well (13/2) resumed his progression when taking the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Rated Novice Chase.

The fall of Bleu D’enfer at the third-last left Jack Kennedy’s mount in front and he comfortably accounted for Donacheady Gale by four and three quarter lengths.

Ian Donoghue, who trains the Famous Name six-year-old for the Declans Bar Syndicate, said: “I was very confident coming up here today - a few boys weren’t and were saying why I was going up into this grade, but sure you have to.

“He had a bad run the last day in Leopardstown, but it didn’t suit as they hacked and he just stays all day. He’s not ground dependent, he was just too weak to handle the soft. He has strengthened up now and can handle it.”

The 1/2 favourite Romeo Magico, owned and trained by Emmet Mullins, was a facile winner of the Bluegrass Mare Prepare Hunters Chase, racing prominent throughout and jumping well en route to beating Neo King by 11 lengths.

Winning rider Dara McGill said: “He was in his comfort zone the whole way, he was jumping brilliantly. The ground is starting to dry up on the chase course and he bounces off that nicer ground. He’s a nice one for the spring festivals hopefully.”

THE Full Circle Series At Punchestown Festival 2024 Qualifier Novice Handicap Hurdle was reminiscent of a Grand National in days of yore with loose horses everywhere in the home straight as Mousey Brown asserted after the last to record a 25/1 success.

Two horses departed at the fourth flight of hurdles, a further two at the sixth where the winner was badly hampered by the fall of stablemate Barry Lyndon and three more went at the third last. In the colours of Alan Smith, the daughter of Califet was ridden out after the last to beat Billy Lee Swagger by three quarters of a length.

Winning trainer Dermot McLoughlin said: “Incident-packed race, but she is a tough mare to come from all that carnage. She kept going well and she missed the second last to add to the woe as well, but she’s a hardy mare, game and tough.”

Perfect Pupil was a second successive 25/1 winner on the card as he landed the first division of the Powered By Bluegrass Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Anna McGuinness.

Owned and trained in Portadown by Stephen McConville, the Leading Light-sired winner scored by a length and a quarter from long-time leader Rebel Cowgirl. The 7lb claimer McGuinness rode a bumper winner last summer and this spare ride, replacing Daire James McConville, gave her a first success over hurdles.

McGuinness said: “I knew my lad would be a strong stayer. A brilliant jump at the last, he winged it and then stayed on strongly to the line. I’m delighted for Stephen, he has been a good supporter of mine.”

SAM Ewing continued his good week when landing the opening Bluegrasshorsefeed.com Maiden Hurdle on 5/4 favourite Faulty.

Ewing had registered his first Cheltenham Festival winner on Stellar Story two days earlier and his mount travelled powerfully before going on after the second last to beat promising newcomer Addragoole by a length and three quarters.

Trainer Noel Meade said: “He’s been unlucky, I think he’s a fair horse to be honest and I always have done. He has always found a way to get beaten.

“I hope he will go on and I’d say he would like a bit better ground. His jumping was much better, but he was still very strong. His owner Albert Dravins is in Melbourne, so hopefully he is watching on TV.”

The second split of that 80-95 handicap hurdle was a thriller as Tankardstown Diva, who had moved through to lead narrowly at the last, and the rallying Jacenry passed the post in unison.

The photograph showed that 4/1 chance Jacenry, sixth on handicap debut at this venue over Christmas, was up by a nose. The Buck’s Boum gelding is trained by David Harvey for Regina Cleary.

Jockey Ben Harvey, grandson of the winning trainer, said: “My lad was very tough, he put his head down and he galloped. I’m delighted, it is always great to get a winner for the ‘home’ team!

“He seemed to hit the line really well the last day and we were pretty confident coming here stepping up in trip. A bit of nicer ground helped him too.”

The Bluegrass Horse Feeds mares’ bumper produced yet another 25/1 winner in the shape of the Gordon Elliott-trained Disco Dancer.

Ridden along in fourth coming down the hill towards the elbow, she outstayed rivals to win by two and three quarter lengths from Shannon Bank.

Owned by Mrs Caren Walsh and Dee L’Estrange, the daughter of Snow Sky was a second winner for Josh Halford.

Halford remarked: “Gordon said to sit in the first four or five, so I did my best to do so and it worked out. “Gordon has been brilliant, I’ve worked for him full-time for seven months and this is my second ride for him.”