Native Jack repeated last year's win in the featured FBD Insurance Mount Ruby Handicap Chase at Cork yesterday and done so in most impressive style with a smoothly achieved thirteen length success.
Barry Cash brought Arthur Moore's sweet-travelling 5/1 shot to the front entering the straight and allowed his mount coast home to beat Garvivonnian.
Cash surmised afterwards that the ten-year-old might head back and have another crack at the Irish National (he fell at the sixth in last year's renewal), but that much would depend on the handicapper's reaction.
Barry Geraghty heads into the most important week of the year at the top of his game after recording a treble.
Dawn Invasion got the ball rolling in the two mile maiden hurdle. The strong 4/7 favourite, sauntered clear from three out, and despite mistakes at the final two, Tony Mullins' charge wasn't extended to record a twelve win.
A market-drifter, the Tony Martin-trained, Beau Colina belied that apparent lack of confidence in the three mile handicap hurdle. Here, Geraghty's mount led soon after two out and stayed on well for a two length victory.
It was three up for the clear championship leader when Ulaan Baatar made short work of his opposition in the two and a half maiden hurdle. Jessica Harrington's 8/11 shot easily disposed of Petertheknot by three lengths.
King Carew (4s to 5/2) was the one for money in the two-miler. Michael Hourigan's representative could only manage third, but the Limerick handler also supplied the winner.
She'll Be Lucky under Kevin Coleman appeared to be in command when Rockstown Boy crashed out at the last. The easy-to-back 10/1 shot was Coleman's first ride for Hourigan and his third winner.
Beef Or Salmon, the mainstay of Hourigan's operation was reported to have departed for Cheltenham on the 9am boat and is boarding with friends of the trainer near Hereford.
Derek O'Connor with four winners 'between the flags' yesterday and a further two at Bruff today added a brace of track victories to that haul as he landed both bumpers on the card. He needed to work pretty hard on Eoin Griffin's Gollum to take the two mile contest but it was altogether easier on John Kiely's first-timer, Cherry Red in the two two event. The Galway amateur now heads for Cheltenham with four booked rides.
In other news, Pat Verling found himself in trouble with the Stewards as he was found guilty of using the racecourse as a training ground with his filly Sunday's Well in the opener.
The horse has been banned from running for 42 days, as the trainer Verling received an E800 fine and as he also took the mount on the 16/1 chance who finished last, he was banned from riding for 10 days.
