BRIDESWELL Lad bounced back to form when recording a shock 33/1 victory in the featured €45,000 QuinnBet Handicap Chase.

The Shirocco gelding was the complete outsider of the 10-runner field for this extended two miles five furlong event but took up the lead over half-a-mile out and was driven out on the run-in by Brian Hayes to beat Battle Of Mirbat by a length and three-quarters.

Brideswell Lad has proved a great servant to veteran Wexford trainer Seamus Neville with his six previous wins including another valuable success at the Punchestown Festival last year and the big spring meetings are again on the radar.

“He’d a very heavy fall in Listowel and it took him a long time to recover. We felt he was getting there of late,” said Neville, who trains the eight-year-old for his wife Ina.

“He would be ground dependant as well so it’s not too heavy (officially soft). He’ll probably go to Fairyhouse and Punchestown and we’ll keep him going for the summer.”

The other race on the card over fences was the Willie Gibbons Celebrating 38 Years At Leopardstown Handicap Chase and the three miles and four-furlongs stamina test went to Fairyhouse specialist Where’s Frankie.

Kept on well

The easy-to-back 13/2 shot was never too far from the pace and kept on well under pressure for Donagh Meyler to hold off Outside The Door by half-a-length.

“Three mile and four seemed to suit him well around here and the bit of rain that came during the week was a blessing as he probably wouldn’t have ran if we didn’t get that,” said Karl Thornton, who trains the gelding for the northern-based Derby Bar Syndicate.

“He’ll go to Fairyhouse on Easter Monday for the 0-140 handicap, and it will probably be holiday time after that.”

JORDAN Gainford, who only returned to the saddle the previous weekend after over two months on the sidelines with a back injury, recorded his first win since that enforced absence when partnering Miss Gherkin to a 16/1 success in the Anton O’Toole Handicap Hurdle.

“It’s great to be back first of all and great to be on the scoresheet,” said Gainford after the five-year-old mare, trained by Peter Croke for Maurice Sheehy, headed the front-running Clever Currency approaching the last before going on to beat that rival by two and a half lengths.

“I’ve many people to thank. Gavin Egan in RACE and Graham Harrison the fitness coach and also Jennifer (Pugh) and Adrian (McGoldrick). A massive thanks to them all. Hopefully I’m getting better every day and we can drive on,” added Gainford, who is looking forward to getting back on Hewick in the Gold Cup.

“I sat on him last week and he feels great. Hopefully he keeps thriving between now and Cheltenham and the ground is good.”

Capo back with win

Gainford’s principal yard of Gordon Elliott was also on the mark when Dee Capo overcame a near four-month break in the QuinnBet Hurdle, heading Ashdale Bob on the run-in and keeping on well for Danny Gilligan to score by a length and three-quarters.

“He’s a nice horse and there is a lot of improvement in him from today. He’d a couple of quick runs and we said we’d freshen him up and have him back for the spring,” said Elliott of the David L’Estrange-owned 3/1 winner. “I’d imagine he’ll go to Fairyhouse or Aintree. He looks like a chaser.”

There was further success for the Gilligan family as Danny’s brother and father combined to land the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle with Zeeband.

The 11/2 chance and Master Otis fought it out from before the last with Jack Gilligan’s mount prevailing by a neck.

“He’d a couple of good runs in handicaps and I shouldn’t have run him the last day as it came too soon after his previous run. He’ll go back into handicaps and is a fun horse. The owner Paul Carty has a painting business in Boston,” said Athenry trainer Paul Gilligan.

WILLIE Mullins held a strong hand in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle with the odds-on Captain Cody and well-backed 13/8 chance Blizzard Of Oz, and it was the latter who came out on top in the familiar ‘double green’ colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Danny Mullins’ mount led approaching the last in beating Purse Price by two and a quarter lengths, with the 4/5 favourite less than a length further back in fourth.

“I think the shorter trip was a benefit and he jumped better than he did at Naas,” said the champion trainer before adding: “Captain Cody probably wants a longer trip. I’d imagine both horses will be aimed for the Final at Punchestown, and they will probably have a run before that.”

Glynn Brae, trained by Stuart Crawford for his brother Steven, made a winning debut in the QuinnBet Flat Race. The 11/2 (from 8/1) chance was prominent throughout under Stephen Connor and despite edging left when ridden over a furlong out, kept on well to beat Delta Force by two and a half lengths.

Better ground

“I had concerns about the ground as he’s out of a Presenting mare and I thought that he’d appreciate a bit of better ground. He won despite the ground, but he has that wee bit of class,” said Steven Crawford.

“He had to commit quite early because the horse was taking him there and nothing was going with him. The first thing Stephen said to me was he got there too soon but when the race comes to you then you have to go.

“I think when you see him on a bit of nice ground, he’ll really flick the toe and be more impressive. He had to stay today, and he showed that he can do that,” added Crawford who confirmed the son of Califet is on the market as he quipped, “I’ll be shocked if I still own this horse next week!”