ONLY four went to post in the featured rated chase at Fairyhouse on Wednesday but it had it’s share of drama before Velvet Elvis went on to claim the prize for the second year running.

Corbetts Cross went to post a 1/4 shot in the three-miler and was moving into contention going to the third last fence. The field was reduced by half there, however, as Run Wild Fred jumped to his right, colliding with the hotpot and causing both to crash out.

Velvet Elvis, who had been to the fore throughout, proved too strong for Eklat De Rire in the closing stages to post a cosy three-and-a-quarter length success under Keith Donoghue.

The Derek Kierans-owned gelding was making his first outing for trainer Gavin Cromwell and he said afterwards of the 7/1 winner: “We’ll take it! We’ll never know what would have happened but he jumped well. He won this race last year and a small field is probably ideal for him and he loves that ground.

Irish National

“Hopefully that will be a confidence booster for him. He’s probably not terribly well handicapped but at the same time you’d have to consider an Irish National.”

Thankfully both Corbetts Cross and Run Wild Fred were both unscathed by their tumbles.

Donoghue and Cromwell had also struck in the preceding two-mile-five handicap chase with Evies Vladimir.

The 11/10 favourite led after a few fences and quickened away in good style going to the last to record a comprehensive nine-and-a-half length win over Where’s Frankie.

“That was grand, he loves that heavy ground. He made a bad mistake at the first but jumped brilliantly after that,” said Cromwell. “We’ll see what the handicapper does and we’ll have to go up in grade now.”

EMMET Mullins had been out of luck with Corbetts Cross in the feature but had a winner in his own colours a couple of races later when Toll Stone ran out a game winner of the four-year-old maiden hurdle.

The Australia gelding travelled well to lead after the second last for Donagh Meyler but was headed after getting under the last flight. He showed a good attitude to grab Roboreti at the line to record a short-head success at odds of 9/1.

“That was good, it probably wasn’t the strongest maiden hurdle on paper,” said Mullins. “After having a few placed runs on the flat we kind of half questioned his attitude so it was good to see him stick out his neck there. After making that mistake at the last he knuckled down well.

“Donagh said he handled the ground very well and we’ll try and get him out again before the ground changes.”

Meyler was completing a double of his own having also scored on Sainte Donna for Tom Cooper in the opening beginners’ chase over two miles and five furlongs.

The 3/1 shot set a strong pace, and jumped particularly well, before staying on strongly down the straight to record a 26-length win over Jumping Jet.

Cooper, who trains the winner for Whitechurch Stud, said: “That was some exhibition. She had a lovely run at Limerick but she takes a bit of time between her races as she’s so hard on herself.

“She seems to be at home on that ground but she’s not slow either.”

Winning start

There was another fine round of jumping later on the card when Iris Emery made a winning start over hurdles for Willie Mullins in the mares’ maiden hurdle over two miles.

Danny Mullins also made all on the 8/13 favourite and Rich Ricci’s Spanish Moon mare asserted after the penultimate flight to record a four-length win over Whimsy.

The winning rider said: “It was a good performance. For a maiden, first time, she jumped very well and that brought me a lot of the way round.

“The second had some decent form pre-Christmas and I’d say for a small field it probably wasn’t the worst maiden.”

MISS Pronunciation continued on an upward curve for Padraig Roche when recording her third straight success in the rated novice hurdle.

The J.P. McManus-owned mare ran out an impressive winner of the two-miler, leading after the second last for Mark Walsh and soon quickening away for a cosy six-length win at odds of 3/1.

“That was great, she did it well. She’s starting to settle a lot better than she was and I’d say that’s bringing out the improvement in her,” said Roche.

“She loves that ground. We had the mother, she was a Topanoora mare and she loved that heavy ground. When it’s like that we’ll keep going and see what there is. The mother stayed but this one’s not slow, I’d say two miles on that ground is her trip. She’s improving the whole time.”

Front-runner

Mighty Jeremy continued a good day for front-runners in the concluding handicap hurdle over an extended two miles and three furlongs.

Darragh O’Keeffe kept a bit up his sleeve on the 5/1 shot as he kicked again after the second last to record a 10-length success. “He gave him a brilliant ride, he got an easy lead in front but he did everything perfectly and I’m happy out with him,” said Tipperary trainer Liam O’Brien.

“He was very consistent last year for us, we were a little bit disappointed the last couple of times but he’s older and it’s probably a little bit harder to get him fit.

“He was brilliant today and as long as the ground stays soft we’ll keep running him. We might even give him a run over fences. He’s a lovely horse to have and I’m delighted for the owner (Paddy Meaney) who is my landlord as well.”