Al Eile under a perfected ride from Timmy Murphy landed the Bewleys December Festival Hurdle on the final day of the Leopardstown Christmas festival for trainer John Queally and owner Michael Ryan.
The seven-year-old held off the ever gallant Hardy Eustace by a length in the two mile Grade 1 contest which saw favourite Jazz Messenger a neck back in third.
Backed from morning odds of 7/1 into 9/2, Murphy sent the eventual winner to the front approaching the last and stayed on well to land the spoils and remarking on the horses early price trainer John Queally said, 'This horse is the real deal this year and as regards Timmy Murphy, I don't have to say anything, he lets his riding do the talking. When I saw what price he was I said to his owner Michael Ryan, do they know something we don't?'
On future plans, the Waterford based trainer said, 'He will get an entry for the Champion Hurdle and while history would not be on his side running with top weight in the Tote Gold Trophy he will get an entry for it also.'
Dessie Hughes had every reason to be delighted with the run of his dual champion hurdler Hardy Eustace after he followed home Al Eile but the Curragh trainer had even more reason to cheer when his ultra tough mare Grangeclare Lark landed the listed Bewleys Hotel Dublin Airport Mares Hurdle in good style under Roger Loughran.
Having won the race last year and ran a nice race at Dundalk on her seasonal reappearance, the six-year-old mare by Old Vic was sent off an even money favourite before duly justifying the faith of her supporters.
The new mares race at Cheltenham looks the natural long term plan according to the winning trainer, 'I thought last year that she would need further and we will try her over that trip for the first time at Ascot on the 19th of January. That should be a good stepping stone ahead of the new mares race at Cheltenham in March.'
Cashmans have inserted Grangeclare Lark a 10/1 shot for the Cheltenham contest for which Amaretto Rose is a 5/2 favourite.
One trainer described the two-mile Bewleys Hotel Manchester Beginners Chase as being 'like an Arkle' and while the absence of Nicanor due to sore shins and the first flight fall of Big Zeb took the bite out of the race, it would be hard not to be impressed by Pedrobob and final flight faller Wins Now.
Pedrobob was the only market principal to have had a run over fences already and despite making a mistake at the last the Phillip Carberry ridden nine-year-old could be eased down all the way home after the last when Wins Now and Tony McCoy crashed out as the pair were set to go to battle.
In the absence of winning trainer Tony Mullins, successful owner Barry Connell said afterwards, 'He was a lot fitter today than at Navan last time out and the experience of that run certainly stood to him. Philip said he was always happy travelling to the last and we will probably come back for the Arkle here next month and if he was to progress enough we would then go on to Cheltenham. He has won around there and he is entitled at a shot at it.'
The Grand National Trial at Punchestown is now on the agenda for the final day's opening winner Royal Man who landed the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase in the hands of Denis Hogan for Charlie Swan.
Having filled the runner up spot on his last two runs Charlie Swan's charge finally got his head in front when slightly aided by some late fallers and he was able to run out a comfortable 10 lengths winner from Dead Sound back in second.
'He jumps and stays well and goes on soft ground. I would imagine we will go for the National trial at Punchestown as he would stay any trip from two and a half miles up to five miles!' revealed winning trainer Charlie Swan.
Indian Pace may be set for a shot at the Pierce Hurdle at the same track next month following his impressive display in the Bewleys Hotel Leeds Hurdle over two-miles. Kevin Coleman brought his mount closer into contention approaching the second last before leading over the last and holding off the late surge of Silver Jaro who finished a half a length back in second.
Oscar Lyons followed up his decent performances in maiden hurdles to lose that tag at the third time of asking under Tony McCoy. The Joe Crowley trained son of Oscar, battled well all the way to the line to hold off the well backed Stewarts House by half a length.
