Champion jumps jockey Barry Geraghty bounced back from suspension with a treble at Naas this afternoon.
He currently trails former title-holder Ruby Walsh in the riders` table but boosted his prospects of retaining the crown by scoring a double for Noel Meade on Harbour Pilot and Michael Mor and also taking the feature Poplar Square Chase on To Your Honour.
Harbour Pilot started 11-8 favourite to open his jumping account in the Stallion Owners Maiden Hurdle and proved too strong for his rivals as he recorded a smooth 15-length success.
To Your Honour profited from enterprising riding tactics in the Poplar Square Chase.
Trained locally by Francis Flood, the 5-2 shot jumped and galloped the opposition into submission to earn a possible crack at the Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown next month.
'To Your Honour would be better with a lead but Barry did the right thing by kicking on with him from the start,' said Flood. 'This horse won`t be easy to place and we will have a look at the Durkan Chase with him.'
Geraghty completed his hat-trick and also made it three wins in the first five races for the Meade stable as Michael Mor kept going long enough in the very soft ground to defeat Super Fellow in the Weatherbys Handicap Hurdle Those who backed 1-3 chance Ned Kelly in the Ardmore Blood Booster Hurdle had few worries as Edward O`Grady`s talented four-year-old delivered the goods comfortably.
