GORDON Elliott celebrated his birthday with a treble at his favourite track last Saturday with Ash Tree Meadow proving the cherry on the cake in the BoyleSports Webster Cup Chase at Navan.

The Alymer Stud-owned gelding turned out again quickly in the Grade 2 contest having been fourth at Naas on his return to action the previous Sunday.

Sam Ewing dominated in the two and a half-mile contest as he bounced out in front on the eight-year-old. The 7/2 shot went clear two from home and kept on well when asked for an effort on the run-in to post a three-and-a-quarter length win over Lucid Dreams.

“It wasn’t really the plan to run him but when the race looked like it would cut up we decided we’d declare him and then make our minds up what to do,” said Elliott. “In fairness to Eamon and Robbie (Waters) they said ‘whatever you want to do’. It worked out great. He’s a good horse, Sam said he hated that ground and he’ll be better on better ground.

“There is a race in Fairyhouse and a race in Aintree for him.

“He’ll be entered in the Irish National and we’ll see what Eamon wants to do, my only concern would be whether he’d get that trip.”

Walsh welcome winner

Instant Tendance had initiated the treble when landing the BoyleSports Mares Maiden Hurdle earlier on the card.

Ewing had also been in the plate on the 4/6 favourite, who led turning for home and kept on well in the closing stages to post a five-length win over Smiling Bess.

Winning owner Caren Walsh had lost her husband Aidan in January and Elliott said: “It’s great for Caren, she’s a big supporter of the yard and that’s her first winner since Aidan passed away.

“She’s tough and honest. On her run in a maiden hurdle here she was probably entitled to win. We’ll try and get a bit of blacktype with her somewhere.”

Elliott’s haul was completed in the concluding mares’ handicap chase when Jumping Jet prevailed after an attritional contest.

Danny Gilligan produced the Getaway mare to lead two from home and despite a mistake there the 2/1 shot soon went clear, posting a 61-length win over a tired Kates Hill.

“That was great. It’s been a good day, my birthday and all, so I can’t complain,” said Elliott.

“She was honest and tough. They went very fast and it suited her well.”

BLOOD Destiny went to post a short price in the Grade 3 Flyingbolt Novice Chase and justified those odds with an impressive victory.

Paul Townend settled the 8/11 favourite behind the front-running Flanking Maneuver in the two-miler before coming to lead after the third last fence.

The No Risk At All gelding, in the colours of the Roaringwater Syndicate, went clear at the last for a cosy six-and-a-half length win over Spillane’s Tower.

Trainer Willie Mullins said afterwards: “New tactics, I thought that might be a help after Punchestown.

“Paul was very taken with him there. He’s brilliant to jump, that was always his feature, but we were making too much use of his jumping instead of just using it when we needed it.

“Coming back in trip might have been a help as well. I don’t know whether we’ve made a mistake now leaving him at home for Cheltenham but at least he has one nice prize in the bag.

“I imagine he’ll probably go for the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse. That was the plan, here and then on to that.”

AODHAN May struck again for the Byrnes family when running out a game winner of the BoyleSports Extra Places Handicap Hurdle.

Philip Byrnes was in the plate on the 10/3 favourite, trained by his father Charles and owned by his mother Cora.

He produced her to dispute at the last and she stayed on best to the line to beat Chosen Diamond by two-and-a-half lengths.

The Vinnie Roe mare was following up victories at Punchestown and here last month and the winning trainer said: “She’s so genuine, she goes on the ground and she’s brilliant to jump.

“He (handicapper) probably has her now after today but it was great to get the three anyway.

“She’ll keep going as long as this ground lasts. She’ll have a long summer’s break.”

Day for favourites

It proved a good day for favourite backers and Charming Star justified his odds of 5/6 in the opening Meath Farm Machinery Maiden Hurdle when staying on best.

Danny Gilligan, who also went on to partner the last race winner, chased down the front-runner Welcome Back on the run-in and went on to post a length-and-a-quarter win over Balko D’Ange.

Tom McCourt trains the winner for the Reach For The Stars Syndicate and he said: “He keeps a lot to himself, a lot of the time he just does what he needs to. I’d say there is plenty of engine there,” said McCourt.

“He’ll probably come back here for a flat race in April, at the minute that’s the plan.

“I got a few lads to buy him back because I thought we’d have plenty of fun with him during the summer.”

Faith repaid

Tom Gibney’s faith in Kinturk Kalanisi was also repaid in the two-mile-six-furlong maiden hurdle when he made virtually all to open his account after a couple of placed efforts.

The Kalanisi gelding stayed on well on the run-in to score by two lengths under Kieran Buckley.

“He’s been as solid as a rock. It’s brilliant for John and Sabrina (Daly), it’s their first horse with me,” said Gibney of the 5/4 winner.

“Jim (Melia) and Sean and Kathleen who bred him had him with me to point-to-point and sell. We couldn’t get a decent price for him in England and I said I’d get them a few pounds back home so I was delighted for them.

“We think he’ll make a nice chaser in time, we’ve thought that all along. He jumps really well and it’s great to pick up a hurdle race on the way.”