SA Fureur will head to the Cheltenham Festival off a hat-trick of wins but he had to survive a stewards’ enquiry to land odds of 5/6 in the Grade 3 Markaye Contacts Ltd Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles on Thursday.

Gordon Elliott’s gelding travelled in behind the leaders for most of the extended two-and-a-half-mile contest but came under pressure earlier than expected just before the straight. To his credit, he responded well to Jordan Gainford’s urgings, and he looked like he’d win comfortably before the last but Paul Gilligan’s Buddy One was nothing but game on his inside, and had the favourite pull out all the stops to win by a short head.

The head-on replay showed Sa Fureur bundle into the runner-up for a couple of strides and an enquiry was duly called, though the stewards left the placings unaltered.

Joey Logan, representing the owners Andrew and Gemma Brown, said: “Jordan said he was always happy and he had plenty of horse under him and that he was always going to get there.

“He stays well. He was behind a bit there, but the ground was quick enough for him today. He’s improving all the time.”

Logan confirmed Sa Fureur will head to Cheltenham next. Elliott won this race with Blow By Blow, who went on to win the Martin Pipe Conditional Riders Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2018, so that could be a route he takes again.

Buddy One, trained by Paul Gilligan and ridden by his son Jack, ran a fine race considering he is rated only 111. Given the short-head winning margin, he is an unlucky loser and though he picked up a nice prize for second, unfortunately his rating is likely to take whack.

Rock solid

Mouse Morris is looking forward to Franciscan Rock embarking on a chasing campaign next season, with the six-year-old deservedly getting off the mark over hurdles in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle over just short of three miles.

The Michael and John O’Flynn-owned six-year-old had hit the frame on all four of his previous runs but shaped like a step up to this trip could suit and he was ridden accordingly by Ricky Doyle, who sent him into a clear lead as early as the fifth last.

Heading into the straight, he had his main market rival Sir Argus in trouble and he maintained a comfortable advantage over that rival to the line.

“It looked like a nice opportunity but they still have to do it,” Morris said. “He stays very well and he had been running well all season, just bumping into better horses on the day. I’m looking forward to next year with him, he’ll make a nice chaser.”

THE market suggested Naas rivals Telmesomethinggirl and Instit would fight out another finish in the opening Listed Carey Glass Irish EBF Colreevy Mares Novice Chase but it was the Gavin Cromwell-trained Brides Hill (7/2) who came through to usurp both under Luke Dempsey.

Settling well off a good pace set by Darrens Hope in front, she gradually made ground up the inside on the second circuit and she was clearly travelling better than both Telmesomethinggirl and Instit, sealing victory with another quick jump at the last, for a four-length score over the former mentioned.

Owned by the Brides Hill Syndicate, the seven-year-old mare had a bad experience on her chase debut at Fairyhouse, catapulting Dempsey dramatically out of the saddle, and her trainer felt that experience had a negative effect on her.

“She got an awful fright the first day at Fairyhouse and it’s just taken her a long time to get confidence,” said Cromwell. “The first three or four fences in her last couple of races she was very slow to warm up but she got straight into it there.

“We gave her a pop this morning and she was very good. Paul Carberry schooled her on Saturday. She’ll be a nice mare for next year.”

Philip Rothwell’s Union Park hadn’t been out of the top four in his last seven races and he scored a second win in that sequence with a smooth performance in the www.thurlesracecourse.ie Handicap Chase over an extended two miles.

The Oliver Barden-owned gelding always seemed in control for Darragh O’Keeffe on his way to an eight-length win over Espion Du Chenet. Rothwell reflected: “He is getting the hang of it now, Darragh said his jumping is extremely good and he is getting more confidence. He definitely seems to be going in the right direction.”

The in-form seven-year-old was scoring here off a chase mark of 106 but is rated 101 over hurdles so connections may explore that avenue.

Cork trainer Paddy Cronin scored his second winner of the season when his mare O Mio Babbino came home with a late rattle to take the Thurles Racecourse Handicap Chase for qualified riders.

She was given an excellent ride by Andrew Burke-Ott, who recorded his second ever win on the track, but timed his run to perfection to take it up on the run-in after the last from Cahirdown Boy.

O Mio Babbino was winless from 11 starts over hurdles but scored here on just her third chase start and considering she has two point wins on her CV, chasing looks to be her game.

YOU could hardly have written the script better for Jody Townend at Thurles on Thursday, when she rode out her claim off the back of a first career double which was initiated by the horse who gave her a first ever winner, her father Tim’s Port Rashid.

The 22-year-old was seen at her very best for both wins. Port Rashid took the Connolly’s Red Mills Ladies Handicap Hurdle for a second win at the track.

He had plenty of ground to make up on the leaders in the straight, but once pulled to the outside, the 12-year-old answered every call from Townend to chase down Future Proof for a half-length win.

It was also fitting that the final win on her claim came for long-time supporter Willie Mullins, on the Syndicate.Racing-owned debutant West End Victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race.

Sent off the 11/10 favourite, the daughter of Westerner looked to be in trouble before the straight and had to come wide of runners, but she picked up well to take it up as the field straightened and having looked vulnerable for the most part of the last furlong, she just about held on after another strong finish from her rider.

“It was a perfect way to do it,” Townend said. “It would have been lovely to do ride the claim out on Port Rashid for dad, but it was nice the way it worked out, riding a double for the first time, and one for Willie as well. A mighty day.

“Willie has plenty of great owners that are very good to me so it’s brilliant the way it worked out.”

On West End Victory’s success, she added: “She probably isn’t the quickest in the world, but is as tough as nails and will stay all day.”