Watson Lake showed that it was premature to be writing him off with a smooth performance, making virtually all in the Ladbrokes.com Fortria Chase to bring up a double for Noel Meade and Paul Carberry who took the first with Pandorama
The ten-year-old was still travelling strongly up the straight, and try as they might, his rivals couldn't get the 8/1 chance off the bridle. Slim Pickings ran a stormer to come through and grab the second place, four lengths adrift of the winner. Mansony was quite easy to back on his reappearance, finishing a further three lengths adrift in third whilst gamble of the event, Scotsirish could manage only fourth.
Noel Meade said afterwards: "We decided today to bounce him out quick and to let him roll along and use his jumping. I don't know what happened him the last day (made a bad mistake in the Star 'Best For Racing Coverage' Chase that went to War Of Attrition) as he never makes a mistake.
"He is getting on but he is still very useful and he is better when he doesn't run too often. Two to two and a half miles is okay for him but I don't know where he'll go next. He won't go Cheltenham for the Paddy Power as it'll come too soon."
Half-an-hour later the well-known John Corr colours (his first double) were again in the winner's enclosure as Aran Concerto made an excellent return from a 606 day absence on his chasing bow in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Beginners Chase.
His jumping was sound in the main and the even money favourite got to the front two out from Bronte Bay and he threw a mighty leap at the last to put the contest beyond doubt, not extended to make it three for Noel Meade and Paul Carberry.
Meade was relieved, saying: "He got a bit tired and you're always worried with the injury that he had. He split a tendon and was with a vet in Newmarket for three months. We nearly had him ready to run a few times last year but it just didn't happen. It is nice to see him back and we'll see now how he is in the morning. Whether he is as good as he was, we'll just have to wait and see but that was a good start."
William Hill go 14/1 (from 20/1) for the SunAlliance Chase whilst they gave him a first show of 16/1 for the Arkle Chase.
A brilliant day for the Tu Va yard was completed in the bumper. Nina Carberry gave 6/4 market-leader, Across The Bay a confident ride to score by ten lengths.
Meade commented of this Land Rover Bumper third: "I'm not that pushed about going for another bumper with him but we'll see. He jumps great and Nina gave him a brilliant ride, she was very conscious of not getting there too soon. It's not my first four-timer and dare I say it, we could even have had five.
"Paul said that Fisher Bridge dropped the bridle four out and that when he gave him a squeeze he suddenly came alive and got there too soon. I'd say if we'd waited longer to get there, he'd have won too." (EM)
