'The way he jumps we could come back to two miles' – Found A Fifty the star turn of another Gordon Elliott four-timer

He was unfortunate to be in the same novice division last year as Gaelic Warrior, but if this performance in the Grade 2 Bottlegreen Chase is anything to go by, Found A Fifty is going to be a force in the top grade this season.

Without a run since the spring, rider Sam Ewing was able to keep a bit up his sleeve and he found more than enough from the final fence to score by two and a quarter lengths.

To win like this, giving a stone to the race-fit Galway Plate winner Pinkerton, was a performance of considerable merit, and was recognised as such by trainer Gordon Elliott.

He said: "That was a good performance to give a stone to the second horse and he had a good blow.

"I suppose we will have to look at a race like the Durkan, but that's the level we're at with him. He's settling better and the way he jumps we could come back to two miles. He's a good horse."

Coolio too hot for rivals

It may have been a weak race, but the performance of Champion Bumper runner-up Romeo Coolio in the 2m maiden hurdle is the type that whets the appetite for the upcoming season.

The Kayf Tara five-year-old, now an imposing individual, jumped really well through the race and went right away from the second-last to beat this inferior opposition by upwards of 13 lengths. The Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle is the next target for this very exciting horse.

Elliott said: "He's a good horse and very quick, and probably a real two-miler. The Royal Bond would look to be the race for him."

Elliott saddled his second four-timer in two days, although it did not match his 11 winners over the two days of this meeting in 2023.

Claimer Carl Millar won the valuable 2m handicap hurdle at this meeting 12 months ago on Magic Tricks, and he again used his 7lb to good effect when landing this year's running on the Robcour-owned Kala Conti.

The stable then landed their second bumper in two days with the Gigginstown-owned Classical Creek, ridden by Harry Swan.

Fahy back in Fashion

It has been a while since Grade 1-winning trainer Pat Fahy has had very much to cheer about, losing good novice hurdle prospect Sporting Glory to Gordon Elliott being the latest blow, but he will have been heartened by the game victory of History Of Fashion in the 3m handicap chase under Harry Sexton.

High fives for jockey Harry Sexton as he and History Of Fashion return victorious following their success in the 3m handicap chaseCredit: Patrick McCann

Having pulled up in three of his last five starts, recent form was not really encouraging, but the 40-1 shot had earned his only previous success over this course and distance and had run well in this race the previous year before finishing second in the Porterstown Chase at Fairyhouse. He looks to be heading for the same race again.

Fahy said: "We want to enter him in the big staying handicaps so we want him to go up the ratings. We just need things to go right for him and this sort of ground is what he wants. Hopefully he will go up enough to run in the Porterstown."

Fahy summed up his recent luck: "I had a horse for a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse on Tuesday, for horses rated 0-109. I was delighted with myself, he had been third in a Listed race and got into a race like that. But then they changed the race conditions two hours beforehand.

"You're there trying with a small yard; it's tough enough without these things happening."

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