Rachael Blackmore beaten on comeback as Supreme winner Slade Steel is defeated by Lecky Watson

Rachael Blackmore was denied on her comeback from injury when held in second on Slade Steel by the Willie Mullins-trained Lecky Watson in a high-quality beginners' chase at Naas on Monday.

Blackmore, returning for her first ride since a fall at Downpatrick on September 20, fought out the finish on last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero but could not get past the Paul Townend-ridden winner.

Lecky Watson returned at 10-3 after a successful chase debut with a length and a quarter back to 8-15 favourite Slade Steel, who also finished runner-up on his first start over fences at Navan last month.

Townend said: "It was good, he jumped like a buck. He didn't fly the second-last but he flew the last when I opened him up. 

"He was very free last season, but hopefully he's maturing now. He had a little look at one of two of the fences but he was as straight as a dye when I wanted him to be and pulled out plenty."

Lecky Watson has been cut to 25-1 (from 100-1) for the Brown Advisory Novices' ChaseCredit: Patrick McCann

Lecky Watson, the choice of Townend from four Mullins runners in the race, was cut to 25-1 (from 100-1) for the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham by Betfair Sportsbook.

Townend took his mount to the lead early and set the tempo throughout the 2m4f contest on a six-year-old who ran in the Albert Bartlett last season.

Although Slade Steel got close to Lecky Watson after the second-last, the winner pulled out a bit more and was on top at the line.

On the possibility of Lecky Watson going up in trip, Townend added: "He does stay well but he likes to get on with it too. I'd say you can mix it between this kind of trip and up, rather than coming back. 

"I don't think he needs to go the extremes yet anyway, but he won his maiden over close to three miles. so we know he stays as well."

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