18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

Review GOWRAN PARK 14TH DEC

Narquois put in a very polished performance dropping in class in the novice hurdle and the grey could now be in line for a hike in grade again.

Paul Carberry led approaching the last, travelling best on the 5/2 favourite, and he stretched clear in good style to beat Supreme Ruler by 3 1/2L.

Noel Meade was as impressed as anyone saying, 'we gave a good few quid for him in France and it could be that he did not like the heavy ground last time.

Of course that was in the Royal Bond behind stable companion, Muirhead (Deloitte & Touche Novice Hurdle bound early in the new year).

'Narquois could go for the Future Champions at Leopardstown over Christmas now,' Meade suggested.

Coolcashin found eleven to eight from a morning quote of five to two to end a sequence of 4th, 3rd and 2nd placings and this he duly did.

With the Co. Kilkenny pair of Michael Bowe and Tom Doyle combining in the training and riding roles it proved to be a very popular success.

Amazingly an initial winner at the track for the Bowe family, Coolcashin asserted from before the last to defeat Very Efficient by 7L.

Michael Bowe commented that his charge's jumping has improved and hopefully he will go on from this.

In the colours carried with distinction by Baby Blue Eyes, Eritrea is keeping the Sammaya Syndicate's name in lights as she took the opener.

Rated just 47 on the level, Pat Flynn's charge was making it two from three over flights as she overcame a bad mistake at the last.

Adrian Joyce's mount picked up well after that to beat the eye-catching newcomer, Megadeed by a length.

Favourite Slievecorragh slipped up in an incident before the fourth, bringing down two others, Spanish Parade and Soleil Levant.

All horses and riders escaped unscathed. Eritrea now has the Durkan New Homes Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown as her objective.

Eleven to ten in the morning into a returned 8/11, Ninetieth Minute just got the job done in the four-year-old maiden hurdle.

Tom Ryan got to the front on the Dermot Cox-owned bumper winner before the last and he bravely fended off Sky Hall by a neck.

Trainer Tom Taaffe afterwards said, 'he has done the job well, but he would be better over a bit further.

'On soft ground he could run over two miles again and I have a winners of one in mind for him over that trip at Cork on the sixth of January.'

Padraig Roche partnered his first winner over hurdles on Carmens Ford for his father Christy in the mares h'cap hurdle.

This one, sporting first-time cheek-pieces, led from four out and stayed on well in the straight to cause a 14/1 surprise (46.90 on the tote).

Virginia Preuil was the one for money (13/2 morning into 7/2 fav) for the three mile maiden hurdle but he could manage no better than fourth behind Scavenger.

Our Ben's full-brother led from three out and stayed on really well for Davy Russell to comfortably score by 3 1/2L for Mouse Morris.

Lilywhitedancer was an impressive victor on his debut in the concluding bumper, in a different class to his rivals, beating Hangover by 13L.

Patrick Mullins was always to the fore on the 5yo, led five furlongs out and he quickly put his opponents in the shade from under two furlongs out.

Willie Mullins, the King's Theatre gelding's handler said, 'he showed a lot more today than he did at home and he is improving hand over fist.

'He will be better on better ground and I will have a word with the owners before we decide on anything.'