JADE De Grugy was the star of a treble for Willie Mullins at Fairyhouse last Saturday as she ran out an impressive winner of the featured Grade 3 SBK Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle.

Kenny Alexander’s Doctor Dino filly made a big impression when taking her maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas and went to post an 8/13 shot to follow up in the Grade 3 contest.

Brian Hayes took the mount this time and tracked the front-running Look To The West before letting his mount hit the front two from home in the two-mile-two contest.

The French-import skipped clear before the last to post a comprehensive six and a half-length win over stablemate A Penny A Hundred.

Assistant David Casey said afterwards: “She was very impressive. She did things right all the way, she jumps brilliant. She travelled and quickened up in the straight. Brian was very happy with her.

“She has the (Mares’ Novice) race at Cheltenham and the Grade 1 back here obviously. There is a short gap between them but I’d imagine they will be the two targets.”

Hayes doubled up for Mullins in the following SBK Maiden Hurdle as Western Diego got off the mark over hurdles at the second attempt.

Kicked clear

The 11/8 favourite made all in the two-miler and kicked clear after the second last to record a seven-length win for owners Clipper Logistics.

Casey said: “He’s a keen going sort and he would have improved plenty for his first run.

“He won a two-mile-three bumper so he was always going to stay but if he just helps himself, he’ll stay better. He’s going the right direction anyway.”

The treble was completed when Argento Boy took the concluding bumper under Jody Townend.

Audrey Turley’s Jukebox Jury gelding was disputing from halfway and galloped on strongly when asked for an effort in the straight to post a seven-length success on debut.

“He did it very well, he’s a big chasing type. I was afraid he might be a little bit green,” said Casey

“Jody said he was a bit lazy in front, I think when he learns more and learns how to race properly, he’ll be a decent horse. The further he was going the better the better he was going.”

GAVIN Cromwell and Sean Flanagan teamed up for a double on the card and Midnight It Is got them off to the perfect start in the opening SBK Handicap Chase.

The 5/1 shot was prominent throughout and picked up well before the last to post a three and a quarter-length win over Battle Of Ridgeway.

Assistant Garvan Donnelly said of Brendan Keogh’s gelding: “He’s a grand horse, he’s a seasoned campaigner.

“Hopefully the handicapper won’t be too hard on him and there might be another day in him. He loves to be out in front and he jumps from fence to fence.”

Now Is The Hour, a faller when leading at Limerick on his previous start, gained compensation in the CJ Sheeran Group Maiden Hurdle later on the card.

The 2/1 favourite was leading from halfway and despite not being fluent at the last two he always looked in control as he posted a six and a half-length win over Jack Du Large.

Donnelly said: “He deserved that. He was unlucky the last day, he just crumpled on landing when he looked like he had the race at his mercy.

“He’s going to make into a nice chaser in time. He’ll be better over fences, hopefully he’ll progress again.”

Danny Gilligan did the steering on the Derby Bar Syndicate-owned gelding who was to the fore throughout and survived a last fence error to post a three and a half-length win.

The 5/2 favourite has now recorded all four career wins at the venue and Thornton said: “He loves it around here. The last day over hurdles he pulled something early on and we’ve done a bit of physio and acupuncture on him since.

“The 0-140 here on Easter Monday is probably tailor made for him. It’s a couple of weeks earlier than usual so he might get softer ground there and it might be safe enough.”

Finished strongly

Stamina won through in the three-miler Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle as Jeriko De Baune finished off strongly to land the spoils for Philip Fenton.

Niall Moore, in the colours of the Crohane Town and Country Syndicate, chased down Duffys Getaway on the run-in to record a two and a half-length win on the 10/1 shot.

“It didn’t look like it was on the cards today but the one thing that he does do is stay very well,” said Fenton.

“Turning in I said he had a chance of being in the money at least but he stayed on really well.

“It has to be soft for him, even slower ground would be a help.”