IT remains too early in the season to make sweeping statements about the novice hurdling pecking order, but J.P. McManus and Willie Mullins’ Irancy (10/11) shaped like a quality graded horse in the making when winning by nine lengths on his seasonal reappearance under Mark Walsh.

Third behind Grade 1 campaigners Firefox and Ballyburn on his only Irish run in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle last December, the half-brother to Darasso created a fine impression when making all to see off Punchestown Festival bumper winner Will The Wise. Speaking after the ready win over just shy of two miles, Walsh said: “It was straightforward, very simple. He had the form in the book.

“He came back in great form and [Willie] had him spot on. I was delighted with him. He’s not a slow horse and there are plenty of options open for him.”

Upset result

Favourite backers expecting a similar story with Mullins’ Champion Bumper fourth Sounds Victorius as 2/5 favourite in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle would have got their fingers burnt when unconsidered 40/1 shot Rockymountainbleu burst through to cause an upset for Philip Rothwell and Tiernan Power Roche.

The William Yorke-owned winner - a €2,000 store - hadn’t been seen since second for the yard in a point-to-point at Tinahely 397 days earlier (his third and best start between the flags) and was making his rules debut. With the favourite failing to quicken up to the same effect in second, Rockymountainbleu pulled off the surprise by four and a half lengths.

Power Roche said: “His work was good and we were expecting him to run well. For an auction maiden, there were bits of form there, especially with Willie’s horse. He was good in the end and has a bit of a turn of foot.”

Brilliant brace

The afternoon ended on an even better note for Rothwell and Power Roche when Robindevidastar repeated his 2021 win in the concluding See You On 23rd & 24th November Handicap Hurdle for owner Philomena Shanahan.

Another returning from a lengthy absence of 211 days, the 22/1 shot kept on gamely to record his third career success by a length and a half.

“It was a very good, genuine run for his first run in a while,” said the winning rider. “That’s my first double on the track, I had a few point-to-pointing but that’s my first as a conditional. I’m delighted. Things are going well but I wouldn’t be able to do it without Philip. He has given me lots of chances and I’m very grateful to him.”

HENRY de Bromhead has his team in outstanding form heading into some of the major winter weekends of the National Hunt calendar and Jasko Des Dames kept up the yard’s red-hot run in the Festival 2025 Tickets On Sale Now Rated Novice Chase.

Victory in the extended-two-mile contest made it four winners from de Bromhead’s last four runners, and a ninth in his last 19 representatives (47% strike rate).

Darragh O’Keeffe, also flying high, was positive on the 9/2 winner, who is now two from two over fences after previously going 0-6 over hurdles.

There was some concern in the immediate aftermath when winning owner Basil Holian was tended to by the on-course medical team on the walkway into the parade ring. Thankfully, he was later reported to be fine.

“It was a good performance in a tidy enough novice chase and it was nice that he progressed from his win at Wexford,” said O’Keeffe.

“He got under the second last but at the back of it he had plenty left.”

Hubble double

The Gordon Elliott team is another yard in fine form and General Hubble is a prime example of that. Fresh from a breakthrough win over fences at Fairyhouse on Tuesday, the Jim Power-owned six-year-old doubled his chasing tally under a 7lb penalty in the Punchestown Premiere Weekend Is Next Handicap Chase over an extended three miles.

A shrewd buy at just £3,500 online out of Kim Bailey’s yard in February, the mount of Carl Millar stayed on stoutly to score by four lengths as the 6/5 favourite.

Elliott’s assistant trainer Lisa O’Neill said: “It was a bit of an ask reappearing three days later. He showed coming up the home-straight there that he keeps a bit up his sleeve. Carl gave him a great ride and he was in a lovely rhythm the whole way.”

IT’S not often you find Willie McCreery with National Hunt runners but the Curragh trainer made his presence felt at Punchestown when sending out Coul Dreamer (16/1) to easily collect in the 50,000 Euro BetVictor Graduation Bonus Series 3-Y-O Hurdle under Ricky Doyle.

This was the trainer’s first winner over jumps in nearly a decade and the 76-rated flat performer could hardly have won any easier, scoring by nine lengths eased down on his hurdling bow.

“I’m delighted as he’s a locally-owned horse. Ray Jennings and Phil McAuley, an electrician, are both from Naas and they bought this fella as a foal,” said McCreery.

“He’s a beautiful big horse and I was always taking my time with him on the flat. He’s much stronger now. I thought he jumped beautifully there and was in a lovely rhythm. He winged everything.

“[Ricky] felt he was just cruising along and didn’t think he was going fast. We’ll maybe aim at the graded race at Fairyhouse. We think a lot of him.”

Sales-bound scorer

Vischio’s finest hour came on the flat as a listed winner of the Finale Stakes at the Curragh last year but she also made her mark on Friday’s National Hunt fixture - blowing away her rivals by an easy seven lengths in the Festival Flexi Ticket Is Back Handicap Hurdle for trainer Dick Donohoe.

She has shown some quirks at the start in the past and Danny Mullins was excellent in keeping her sweet as the tapes went up. It was very much smooth sailing at the business end for the Goatsbridge Syndicate-owned mare, who returned at 11/2.

Donohoe said: “It took her a while to get back to top form, she’s been running fairly well but had a mid-life crisis in the middle of this year and seems to fall out of love with starting! In fairness, when she gets going she’ll give you everything.

“This mare is in the sales at Goffs next week. She’ll be sold as a broodmare prospect, or for racing. That was always the plan and it’s great to finish on that note.

“She’s been a great story. She was first bought for a friend of mine who was fighting cancer at the time. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the rewards out of it as she was only starting to win before he died.

“My cousins Mag [Kirwan] and Michael [Donohoe] bought her at the sales then. Mag is fighting cancer as well, and going well at it. She is getting a serious buzz out of this.”