MADARA (4/1 joint favourite) was one of only three British-trained runners across the Dublin Racing Festival but secured his Gloucestershire-based trainer Sophie Leech a memorable win with an impressive victory in the two-mile-one-furlong Ryanair Handicap Chase.

The five-year-old impressed in the manner of his victory over In Excelsis Deo at Cheltenham in December and he built on that here, travelling notably well under the France-based rider James Reveley. Sent to the front on the approach to the last, the pair came right away after the last before joint favourite Path D’oroux closed the gap to two and three quarter lengths late on.

“We looked at this after Cheltenham,” said Leech. “My sons Ed and Christian do all the race planning and this fitted in, timing wise. We’re used to travelling, we have more runners in France than in England. It just looked like a really nice opportunity and obviously Bryan (Drew, owner) and all the lads involved were really keen to come over and have a go, and it worked out.

“I’m so happy. We’re a very small yard, the team at home work tirelessly so a huge thanks to all of them.”

Madara, recruited from France where he had run nine times, should have a lively chance in a handicap chase back at Cheltenham next month, but his trainer is still undecided as to which race to go for.

“We were thinking of the Plate, because we think he might like a step up in trip,” she said. “He was beaten on the old course, and I think the new course might suit him better, but I don’t know as he showed plenty of pace there. It’s a nice problem to have - he’ll have an entry in both. We’re lucky to have him, he’s only five so let’s hope he has a big future.”

Maxxum

Gordon Elliott’s sole winner at the Dublin Racing Festival came in the three-mile Race And Stay At Leopardstown Handicap Hurdle, which featured a tough performance from Maxxum (28/1) and Carl Millar.

The Patrick Rabitt-owned gelding disappointed in this race last season when sent off 7/4 favourite off the back of two easy wins and had lost his way since, pulling up on his previous start here at Christmas. However, ridden more aggressively, he bounced back to form. Having raced in second throughout, his rider allowed him to take up the running after the third last, and they were able to hold off all challengers, chiefly Gaoth Chuil, who looked to be travelling best turning in, and stablemate Yeats Star who came from further back to finish third.

Millar was registering his third win from his previous three rides and a third big handicap success this season but his trainer felt he can improve further still.

“He’s a good lad,” said Elliott. “He is well able to ride, he just needs to tidy himself up a bit, get on the simulator. He is a good lad and he works hard.

“Maxxum is a bit hot and cold and I thought the ground might have gone a bit soft for him but when you’re in these handicaps you never know. We said we’d keep it simple, pop him out handy and see what happens.”

The closing Grade 2 Donohoe Marquees Future Stars INH Flat Race featured an impressive victor in the Emmet Mullins-trained Jeroboam Machin (12/1), who unfortunately was reported to have taken a setback after the race and will now miss the rest of the season.

This is yet another smart horse to run for owner Paul Byrne. Ridden by Derek O’Connor, the five-year-old always looked to be travelling well and arrived there going much the best in the straight, picking up smartly when asked to come four and a quarter lengths clear of You Oughta Know.

“Watching him working for the last few weeks, he wouldn’t have inspired anyone but I have to take myself back to what I said after his bumper win (Fairyhouse), he doesn’t show much at home,” said Mullins. “Anytime we bring him away, he lights up. He’d come as quick with a 90-rated horse as a 140 horse, and that’s just him.

“He worked with Slate Lane, who went over to Haydock and won a 125,000 race. He’ll come up with whatever we put him with at home but we don’t over-face him, we keep him for the track.

“Paul gives me a bit of rein. I picked him out of an auction point-to-point that probably wasn’t that sexy a race for people to buy out of, but I just loved the way he did it. He winged the last on that occasion so hopefully he will go on to better things over jumps.”