I AM Maximus propelled himself to the top of the market for the Randox Grand National with a “magnificent” performance in the Tote.ie Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse last Saturday.

Willie Mullins was impressed by the 14-length win of the Authorized gelding in the Grade 3 prize despite some jumping issues.

The even-money favourite tended to jump left throughout, in the three miles and one furlong contest, but travelled strongly to lead after the second last under Jody McGarvey.

He was untidy at the final fence but it didn’t stop his momentum as he went on to post an easy success over Vanillier.

The first two are now disputing favouritism for the big race at Aintree at around 10/1.

Mullins said of the J.P. McManus-owned gelding afterwards: “I thought it was a magnificent performance considering how badly he jumped going away from the stands.

“He just missed one or two there and Jody left him alone and let him find his own feet.

“When he got halfway down the back, and around the fifth last, once he saw the stands, I think he just clicked into another gear.

“I don’t know how good he is but he’s certainly improving with every run. However, he does love Fairyhouse and maybe this is his track, he certainly has an engine.

“I’d imagine he goes for the Grand National, he would look like a Gold Cup horse in time but I’d imagine Aintree is his objective.”

Raffles Easter aim

The Irish National is on the agenda of Intense Raffles after the Martaline gelding made it two from two since joining Tom Gibney.

Daryl Jacob bounced out and made all on the 4/6 favourite who produced a fine round of jumping. The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding went clear three out to record a 43-length win in the rated novice chase.

Gibney was careful not to get carried away despite the impressive success: “If we didn’t win it we would have been very disappointed but at the same time we couldn’t have been happier with the way he did it.”

The Irish National looks on the cards now for the winner with Gibney adding: “We could have gone for the novice race tomorrow in Naas but we decided to come here today to test out the distance. We wanted to see if he’d stay and today it looks like he’d get every bit of it (National trip).

“There is a good chance he’ll come back on Easter Monday. I’d say he probably needs to go up 8lb to get into it.”

HENRY de Bromhead has his string in flying form and grabbed a quick double on the card courtesy of Theatre Native and San Guido.

The former left behind a below par effort at Clonmel in November when running out a convincing winner of the opening Red Mills EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.

Rachael Blackmore produced the 4/5 favourite to lead before the second last and she soon asserted to record a seven-length win in the colours of Kenny Alexander.

“I’m delighted with that. She ran very keen there all the way and when she learns to settle obviously that will help her again,” said de Bromhead.

On her disappointing last run he added: “We could never really put our finger on it to be honest. There were a few little things we thought so we just went back to square one and started afresh with her.

Lovely work

“She did a lovely piece of work about 10 days ago so that gave us some encouragement. There’s the Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle here and she’s in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham and she’s also eligible for the final of this race. There are loads of options.”

San Guido was another to leave behind his previous run when claiming the following four-year-old handicap hurdle.

Darragh O’Keeffe led before the last on the 12/1 shot and Ben Halsall’s gelding soon scooted clear for a 10-length win.

“He was really disappointing in Naas (finished eighth), he’s just so laid back. He’s not ungenuine so we said we’d try the blinkers on him and obviously they had the desired effect,” said de Bromhead.

“He was brilliant today, he jumped brilliantly and did it nicely. I’m delighted he’s got off the mark today and we’ll see what’s coming up.”

ANOTHER horse that bounced back to form on the card was the Padraig Roche-trained Shadow Rider in the Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle.

Peter Smithers sent the 18/1 shot on turning for home in the two-and-a-half mile contest and he looked in control when left well clear by the fall of Glen Kiln two from home. The J.P. McManus-owned gelding went on to post a comprehensive 21-length success.

Roche said: “That’s great. He’s a lovely horse but he’s fragile. We train him out of the pool a bit.

“He’s a bit inconsistent but he did it well today and it’s great to get a win out of him. Hopefully he’s alright in the morning and we’ll take it from there.

“I’m delighted for Peter, it’s nice for Frank and J.P. to give him a chance. He’s with me every day of the week and works hard so it’s great that he got a winner as well.”

Deserved success

In the other two and a half mile handicap hurdle, for 80-102 horses, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Jouster gained a deserved success after a fall at the track last month.

Keith Donoghue led entering the straight on the 5/4 favourite and the French-bred kept on well in the closing stages to post a three-quarters of a length win over Solly Attwell.

Assistant Garvan Donnelly said: “He was unlucky the last day, when he fell at the second last, and it was good that he got compensation.

“He seems to go through the ground well, he jumped really well and Keith gave him a good ride. Hopefully there is another day in him.”

PAT Fahy’s belief in Sporting Glory was validated when the Fame And Glory gelding emerged victorious after a cracking finish to the concluding Ian Smith Memorial Bumper.

Derek O’Connor led under two furlongs out on the 3/1 shot and he knuckled down when tackled by Sky Lord inside the final furlong to record a hard-fought neck success.

Fahy said: “Derek was brilliant in the last 50 yards. I’m delighted that he has ridden a winner for me.

“I’ve had a lot of top riders that have ridden winners for me and I was afraid I’d never get him to ride a winner.

“We’ll see what Joe Foley and Steve Parkin say but we’ll probably go for a maiden hurdle and then rock up to Punchestown in a good race, depending on how he jumps.

“Martin Cullinane sold the horse and made sure that he’d end up in my yard. We were begging lads to buy him and they were knocking the horse because he was too old.

“You can’t buy a day like today, that was sweet. The owners are at the rugby but Joe told me that Steve is delighted.”