Ash Hobbs continues progression at Down Royal
Both Henry de Bromhead and Gordon Elliott secured doubles on the card.
Henry De Bromhead was delighted to see Ash Hobbs get herself some black-type in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle at Down Royal.
The daughter of Jack Hobbs continued her impressive transition to hurdling as she came home two and a quarter lengths clear of the field in the Grade Three event.
She had earlier launched her season by scoring on her first attempt over timber at Fairyhouse and De Bromhead believes she is a completely different animal over obstacles after two poor efforts in bumpers last season.
De Bromhead said of the 4-1 winner: “(That was) really good, delighted with her. She has really found her form.
“She always worked like a nice mare last year and she disappointed us in the bumpers, but the two times we ran her it was very testing ground.
“We just hoped jumping and nicer ground would stand to her, and she has really excelled. She’s like a different mare this year.
“The ground is important to her, so we’ll see what everyone wants to do, and we can make a plan.
“It’s lovely she’s a black-type mare now.”
De Bromhead completed a double when Matin Midi Et Soir (1-2 favourite) won the BetVictor Beginners Chase and the Drinmore Chase could now be on the agenda.
He added: “We have got to know him a lot more now and he’s a horse that we hope can go on to bigger and better things, fingers crossed. The Drinmore would certainly be on your mind, but we’ll see what everyone wants to do.”
John McConnell is debating whether to send Heads Up (10-1) chasing following his success in the Listed bottlegreen Hurdle under Danny Mullins.
McConnell said: “You were coming here with the way the ratings were set and the penalty – we were up against it. Obviously, two horses came out, but there were still some good horses in it.
“Danny said he’s a different horse to what he rode even when he won last year.
“We had a plan to go to Punchestown over fences in three weeks, so we’ll see. Obviously, he is going to go up to probably 140-plus now. There are good discussions to be had.”
The Gordon Elliott-trained With Nolimit (1-6 favourite) made a winning start over timber has he had too much class for his rivals in winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle by four lengths.
With Nolimit signed off last season in winning the Grade One Champion Bumper at Punchestown and Elliott said: “It is all about chasing down the road. Obviously, he could go to Fairyhouse or somewhere before – I’ll talk to Michael and Eddie (O’Leary, owners) and see.
“I’d say he actually could (drop in trip). In a better race, I’d say he could.”
Premier Division (4-9 favourite) won the concluding WTW Willis INH Flat Race to give Elliott a double of his own.
Elliott indicated Premier Division could now go hurdling.