IMPAIRE Et Passe was the big name on show at Fairyhouse last Saturday but another potential star emerged on the card in the shape of Anzadam.

In the opening SIS Beginners Chase, Impaire Et Passe went to post a 2/13 shot on his debut over fences and didn’t disappoint. Paul Townend tracked the leaders on the Diamond Boy gelding before setting him alight down to the last fence.

Willie Mullins’ charge soon asserted and was left clear by the falls of O’Moore Park and Twoohthree at the final fence. His 12-length victory was overshadowed afterwards, though, with the latter suffering a fatal injury and his jockey Jack Kennedy transferred to hospital with a broken leg.

Townend, in the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: “He was class. He jumped brilliantly, he got a bit lackadaisical in the middle of it but when I opened him up at the back of the second last he took off.

“He had a great jump at the last and did everything I wanted him to do. He stood off when I wanted him and was good at getting in. I’m very happy.

“He went to sleep on me after jumping the two out of Ballyhack and I was happy enough not to light him up that far out. I was hoping when I did he would come alive and he did – mustard.”

Exciting Castle

Townend doubled up for Mullins when Ballygunner Castle, owned by JR Brennan and David Flynn, took an incident-packed Kettles Supporting Fingal Ravens Maiden Hurdle.

The 3/1 shot was soon in front in the two-miler but was pestered by a loose horse, Summer Dawn, in the straight. He was badly hampered going to the second last and carried right again at the final flight but showed a good attitude to overcome and beat Special Cadeau by a length and a quarter.

Townend said: “He had to overcome plenty from very early. He got a good bump at the start and I nearly fell off him at the first. I had to ride him on then and I made him do plenty throughout the race. There were no hiding places and it was messy up the straight but he still pulled out again. It’s the sign of a good one.”

Awesome Anzadam

The Closutton treble was completed in fine style by the Joe Donnelly-owned Anzadam (5/2) in the Grade 3 WillowWarm Hurdle over two miles. The Authorized gelding was making his table debut having won his first two career starts in France. Townend produced him to lead before the last and he showed an electric turn of foot to quicken away on the run-in for an easy six-and-a-half-length win over Kala Conti.

Mullins said: “Anzadam looks something special. I couldn’t get him out last season but his form in France was good. I didn’t know what was going to happen so I was very pleasantly surprised. It was an awesome performance.

“He’s a four-year-old who I think will have to take on Grade 1 horses now, so it is going to be difficult to find where we’ll produce him next.”

HENRY de Bromhead’s string continues to be in fine form and the Knockeen handler grabbed a quick brace on the card.

Sam Magee initiated the double when landing the Race And Stay Ladies Handicap Chase under a well-timed ride by Georgie Benson. The Roger Brookhouse-owned 6/1 shot led at the last to beat St Denis’s Well by two and a half lengths.

“Georgie gave him a super ride,” said de Bromhead. “He jumped great bar one mistake at the fourth last. It’s great for the Brookhouses and it’s great to get it.

“Hopefully he’s back on track now, he was a bit disappointing during the summer. He stays well and likes a bit of nice-ish ground.”

Tiara on top

In the following EasyFix Equine Handicap Chase, Brian Hayes delivered The Folkes Tiara with a strong late charge.

The 8/1 shot got the better of The King Of Prs on the run-in to post a three-parts-of-a-length win in the €45,000 contest for owner DWPJ Investments.

“He had lost his form a little bit and it’s great to see him back - Brian was brilliant on him,” said de Bromhead.

“He jumped unreal. Brian said he thought he was beaten coming to the last and he said the leap he put in there was brilliant. He won at Leopardstown last year and he’ll be a couple of pounds higher now but it’s a very valuable pot. We’re delighted to win today.”

SEAN Flanagan cemented his new partnership with Barry Connell with a winner on board Farmers Lodge in the Roganstown Hotel & Country Club Handicap Hurdle.

The well-backed 3/1 favourite travelled smoothly to lead after the third last and was nicely on top in the closing stages to post a cosy four-and-three-quarter length win over In For The Night.

“113 looked like a nice mark over hurdles but it doesn’t always work out. He’s had a few issues and hasn’t been straightforward to train,” said Connell.

“We have options and we’ll probably keep him over hurdles for the time being. He’s obviously going to go up for that. He seems to be ground versatile.”

Chou collects

Connell had to settle for second in the preceding Close Brothers Rated Novice Hurdle when Big Chou (6/1) proved eight lengths too strong for Apple’s Of Bresil.

The Noel Meade-trained gelding ran out an easy winner of the two-and-a-half mile contest under Conor Stone-Walsh.

“They went hard and that suited him because he stays really well,” said Meade of Liam Queally’s homebred. “He’s a chaser in the making. I suppose we might run him at Leopardstown over Christmas.”

Bumper upset

Gordon Elliott saddled odds-on shot Ma Jacks Hill in the concluding bumper, named in memory of his uncle Willie, but it was the stable’s 25/1 second string William Butler who emerged on top.

Trasna Na Pairce came to claim the hotpot inside the final furlong but that pair were then trumped by the Yeats gelding, who quickened up smartly for Josh Halford to post a length-and-a-half win.