'We always thought she'd improve for a fence' - Only By Night makes a bright start to chasing by downing odds-on Mirazur West

Only By Night looks a smart chasing recruit for the Gavin Cromwell stable as she beat 8-11 favourite Mirazur West en route to a commanding victory by six and a half lengths in the 2m½f beginners chase.

A winner of two bumpers and a Naas maiden hurdle, the six-year-old ran well when last seen to finish third in a Listed event at Punchestown in May, but scaled greater heights over fences, jumping soundly to win at odds of 9-2.

Winning rider Keith Donoghue told Racing TV: "We thought all last year she would improve for a fence. She schooled on the grass yesterday and was brilliant. We thought the favourite would be hard to beat but we thought she'd run a big race. She has plenty of scope and was good and long at the last two."

Tap and go

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Taponthego went one better than her runner-up debut effort at Wexford, relishing a step up in trip to run out a stylish winner of the 2m4½f maiden hurdle under in-form rider Darragh O'Keeffe, who had a treble at Thurles on Thursday.

The five-year-old barely saw another rival and powered nine lengths clear, justifying strong market support into even-money favouritism.

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