Home By The Lee repeats Lismullen Hurdle win for Joseph O'Brien as Gordon Elliott saddles 120-1 five-timer

Despite the narrow defeat of Solness in the Fortria Chase, it was a good day for Joseph O'Brien as his top staying hurdler Home By The Lee came back to form by landing the Grade 2 Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle for the second time.

He won it in 2022, taking the scalp of Bob Olinger and his exploits since made this defeat of the same horse somewhat less of a surprise, especially as he was a stone better off with his rival from their meeting here last year when Bob Olinger beat him by over five lengths.

Under a positive ride from Danny Mullins, the winner always had his illustrious rival at arm's length, and stayed on strongly up the hill to win by three and a half lengths.

O'Brien said: "He has run well in the race before and he was much better in at the weights this year. He travelled through the race well and jumped well. Danny was impressed with him and we couldn't be happier. His path from here really plots itself. We will go back to Leopardstown at Christmas and to Cheltenham from there."

Vassy impresses as Elliott completes five-timer

Of all the potential talent at Gordon Elliott's disposal in the novice hurdle division at the start of the season, not many would have identified the Gigginstown-owned Bleu De Vassy as one destined for greatness, but the French-bred made it two out of two over hurdles as he impressively saw off his opposition in the Grade 3 Bar One Racing For Auction Novice Hurdle, as part of Elliott's 120-1 five-timer.

Jack Kennedy, who rode a treble, took over quickly after heading front-running Royal Hollow early in the straight and spreadeagled his opponents in impressive fashion.

Elliott said: "We were running him in bumpers last year on heavy ground, and I couldn't understand how he was getting beaten. I was disappointed with him but maybe he just doesn't want it that soft. He travels with a lot of pace and I would say he is just a good horse."

Down Memory Lane: impressive Navan winnerCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Memory one for the future

This time last year, the JP McManus-owned Down Memory Lane looked a horse for whom the sky might be the limit. The engines look to be firing up again as he took apart a quality field in the beginners' chase to give Elliott his fourth winner of the day.

Off since a poor run in a novice hurdle at Leopardstown in December, he put in a fine round of jumping under Mark Walsh to beat better-fancied stablemate King Of Kingsfield by seven lengths. Paddy Power cut the winner to 20-1 (from 66) for the Arkle at Cheltenham.

Elliott said: "He's a good horse and had a few small problems last year. I thought it was a very good performance. He jumped great and galloped the whole way to the line."

Good bumper horse Wingmen set the ball rolling for Elliott's Cullentra yard when landing the opening 2m4f maiden hurdle, and the five-timer was completed by the Gigginstown-owned Whinney Hill under Harry Swan in the 2m bumper.

In the same bumper race, rider Linzi Dowdall was banned for 25 days for excessive use of the whip when out of contention on Trooper Lewis, who finished last of the 11 runners.

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