THE Marlin Hotel Dublin, Supporting The National Breast Cancer Research Institute Handicap Chase was the most valuable event on the card and Grandero Bello (22/1) produced a fine performance to win under top-weight.

Ricky Doyle’s mount has been seen only once since last year’s Punchestown festival, but showed no signs of rustiness, as he improved to lead after the last. Brought to the stands’ side rail once straightening up, the son of Great Pretender stayed on well to beat Tyre Kicker by three-parts of a length.

The eight-year-old is trained by Eddie and Patrick Harty and the former commented: “He jumped his way into it. As my father said, once you have a horse who jumps well and is gaining ground unbeknownst to yourself, it is up to the jockey then not to give it back.

“I’d have been happy with him finishing in the first four, as he had been off since March and was in against battle-hardened horses, who have been on the go a while.

“He is in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury as Robert Caddick and Josie Reed, who is a sister of Nicky Henderson, own him and they would love to bring him to England. That’s the first target for him and then there’s the Troytown and the Paddy Power at Christmas.”

Sam finds Glory

A dual Grade 3 winner over hurdles, Search For Glory (11/4) made a winning debut over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase on a day of incessant rain at Galway.

Sam Ewing’s mount headed longtime leader Sir Argus after that one blundered at the last and stayed on well to beat market leader Sa Majeste by eight lengths. The seven-year-old is trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Gordon Elliott.

Stable representative Lisa O’Neill said: “Sam was happy with him and he jumped quite well. We knew he’d come up the hill well, but there is plenty of improvement to come from him, both mentally and physically. Hopefully, he’ll be competitive in those novice chases now.”

Ewing doubled up for the same owner/trainer combination aboard Patter Merchant (9/4) in the Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate Maiden Hurdle.

A point-to-point and Leopardstown Christmas bumper winner, Patter Merchant led from three out to beat I Am Lorenzo by four and a half lengths.

Ewing reported: “He travelled very well and his jumping took me there along the back straight. He is a sharp enough horse and has got two and a half miles today, but wouldn’t have any problem dropping back either. He is a nice one and we’re looking forward to him.”

THREE were in with a chance passing the furlong pole in the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase and it was Doonbeg Don (11/2), who found a bit extra to score under Mike O’Connor.

The Soldier Of Fortune gelding was making a winning debut over regulation fences and got home by half a length from Desert Heather. The winner is trained for the Freebooter Syndicate by Henry de Bromhead

“Any of Henry’s seem to improve when running over fences and he dug deep and was tough,” said O’Connor.

Great Mates

My Great Mate (11/10 favourite), ridden by Danny Mullins for his uncle Willie, landed the 100 Euro Annual Badge Novice Hurdle, when getting the better of front-running Prends Garde A Toi by half a length.

The winner is owned by Temple Bloodstock Syndicate, run by Aubrey McMahon, who reported: “He jumped as well as he ever did, was quick and efficient and is a tough horse who is on the go since he won his bumper here last summer. I don’t think he wants deep winter ground, but he is versatile.”

SMART bumper mare Mozzies Sister made fairly hard work of landing odds of 1/3 in the WINABMW.ie Mares Maiden Hurdle.

In front early, the daughter of Arctic Cosmos was headed before halfway by Whimsy and still had a couple of lengths to find with that rival on the approach to the last, before getting up close home to score by half a length under Shane Fitzgerald.

The five-year-old is trained for the For The Love Of It Syndicate by Declan Queally.

Fitzgerald said: “She wouldn’t have seen the likes of those new Easyfix hurdles and got a bit of a fright early on. She had been jumping super at home and it was a lot tougher than I thought it would be but, to be fair, she was good and gutsy.”

Well-related

A half-sister to dual Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, Al Arrivee was sent off odds-on favourite to make a winning debut in the Race In Pink 4-Y-O Fillies (Pro/Am) Flat Race, but had to settle for second behind 20/1 chance Rock On By.

Trained for the Coffey and Browne families by Paul Nolan, the daughter of Kayf Tara went clear, with the market leader turning for home and proved the stronger in the final furlong to score by a length and three-quarters.

“She is obviously a very nice mare,” said rider Conor Smithers. “I think she would appreciate stepping up in trip and I’m looking forward to seeing her over an obstacle.”

Rockbrook (10/1) produced a game effort to win the Mulryan Auctioneers Handicap Hurdle under Shane O’Callaghan.

The Laverock gelding made the running, but was headed by the strong-travelling Wee Charlie on the approach to the last. In receipt of a whopping 30lb from that rival, Rockbrook rallied on the run-in to score by half a length.

Philip Rothwell trains the winner for the GVD Syndicate and O’Callaghan said: “I’d never ridden the horse, but was talking to Simon Torrens beforehand and he said he’d absolutely love the ground. He toughed it out well.”