'This is our Cheltenham here at Fairyhouse' - Born Bright sets up Paddy O'Brien for huge 186-1 double

It has been some 24 hours for 7lb claimer Paddy O'Brien, who left Downpatrick on Friday evening battered and bruised after a crashing spill from Schiehallion in a handicap hurdle, but managed to dust himself down and ride a 186-1 double on his next two rides at Fairyhouse.

It was the first double of O'Brien's career and it was kicked off by 16-1 outsider Born Bright in the opening 2m4½f mares' maiden hurdle before 10-1 shot Goodie Girl scampered clear in the closing stages to land the 2m2½f handicap hurdle later on the card. 

Claire O'Connell, based only a few miles down the road in Ashbourne, was chuffed to see Born Bright get her head in front at the first time of asking over hurdles and said a winner at Fairyhouse is akin to one at Cheltenham for her. 

"This is our Cheltenham here at Fairyhouse," she beamed. "I'm just so appreciative of these types of races for small trainers. I knew there was a bit of negative press about them but for the likes of me it really gives us a chance not to be competing with the Man Utds and Man Citys of this world when it comes to racing."

Dermot McLoughlin is a fan of Fairyhouse, too, hardly surprising given he has won two Irish Grand Nationals at the track, and the trainer of Goodie Girl heaped praise for O'Brien afterwards. 

McLoughlin said: "He gave her a super ride and I'm delighted with that. He said that she travelled well, jumped well. She was a nice mare last year and hopefully she'll come on from the run. She cracked a little joint in her fetlock joint last year but seems to be none-the-worse for it."

Awesome Aileen 

The hugely popular Aileen O'Sullivan celebrated the third winner of her career in the concluding bumper as Arctic Craft, supported from 20-1 all the way down to 6-1, kept going to score for Antrim-based trainer Michael Millar. 

O'Sullivan, who sells the sport as well as anyone with her endless supply of enthusiasm for the game, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon and that's my 10lb claim gone on the Flat now. I'm down to 7lb which is fantastic, even though all my winners so far have been in the jumps game."

Bright future 

Bleu De Vassy was a big drifter ahead of the 2m2½f maiden hurdle, from odds-on all the way out to 6-4, and he looked big in the ring beforehand, but that didn't stop him from winning by 25 lengths under Jack Kennedy. 

Gordon Elliott said of the Gigginstown-owned winner: "He'll come on plenty for that and I'd say he's quite a nice horse. He'll get further than this and he jumped great. He'll step up to graded company now."

Ice-cool Flanagan

Sean Flanagan was ice-cool on Cleopatra's Needle, swooping late to land the 2m handicap hurdle for Harry Rogers at 16-1, while smart Flat performer Dame Rapide won the other 2m handicap hurdle on the card for James Barrett and Daniel King at odds of 13-2.

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