Fun Fun Fun cut to 16-1 for Mares' Chase after impressive chase debut as card ends in near-blizzard conditions

Willie Mullins saddled three runners in the opening 2m4f mares' beginners' chase and duly saddled the first three home, with the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned Fun Fun Fun making an impressive debut over fences.

Patrick Mullins was entrusted with the ride on the daughter of Martaline, and her jumping was good enough for her to make all for a decisive victory. The further they went the better she travelled and she was not flattered by her seven-and-a-half-length margin of victory over her erratic jumping stablemate Karia Des Blaises, with the exposed Iris Emery an honourable third. 

The Henry de Bromhead-trained market leaders Lantry Lady and Majestic Force disappointed in fourth and sixth. The winner had already scored in Graded company in a bumper and a Grade 3 novice hurdle at this venue in March and was cut to 16-1 (from 25) for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase by the sponsors.

Willie Mullins said: "That was a nice performance. She jumped well enough for a novice having her first run. She put in a big jump at the last ditch and it just seemed to change the whole race. She got a couple of lengths at that point and it meant the opposition were on the back foot.

"We might come back here for the Opera Hat Chase next month unless we see something else for her. It's not a novice race but novices get an allowance, so it might just fit in well."

As for his other two mares, Mullins said: "Iris Emery ran a cracker. Karia Des Blaises jumped indifferently. She ballooned the first and made a mistake at the fence past the stands and it just left her with too much to do but she will get her turn."

After the success of Ile Atlantique in the Racing Post Novice Chase, Mullins went on to complete a treble and champion jockey Paul Townend a double when Joystick ploughed through the mud to prevail by half a length in the 2m maiden hurdle.

Dark lights up the bumper

The snow which threatened the meeting arrived a day later than expected, and there was a real threat that stumps would be drawn before the bumper, such was the intensity of it after it began to fall during the sixth race.

The finale went ahead though, and despite the conditions being extremely harsh for a bunch of four-year-olds with just one previous run between the nine of them, it was won in good style by the appropriately named Light Up The Dark. 

The daughter of Camelot showed a decent turn of foot under John Gleeson for in-form trainer Joseph O'Brien. The winning rider said: "She's only four and it’s early days, but you would have to be very pleased with her."

A wintry scene at Naas - in pictures

A racegoer braves the snow to inspect the horses in the paddockCredit: Patrick McCann

Jordan Gainford is covered in mud as the snow fallsCredit: Patrick McCann

The runners are well rugged up in the paddock before the finaleCredit: Patrick McCann

Light Up The Dark copes with the attritional conditions best to land the bumperCredit: Patrick McCann

John Gleeson heads back to the weighing room after winning the bumper on Light Up The DarkCredit: Patrick McCann

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