Operation treble for Ruby Opeation Houdini hasn't been the luckiest horse in the past but he defied top-weight to land a nice pot, the Castlegar Handicap Chase, for the second year running and in the process Davy Fitzgerald's charge brought up a near 25/1 treble for his rider, Ruby Walsh. The 9/2 favourite led three out and he stayed on really well up the straight to beat Old Si by four and a half lengths. Fitzgerald said afterwards: "Off his mark he done what he was expected to. He should have finished a bit closer in Limerick (in the Munster National) last time. He might go for the Troytown at Navan now after being unlucky in it last year (2nd to Notre Pere). The Welsh National is the long term plan. You won't see the best of him until he gets four miles. We'd like to get a big pot out of him." Ruby Walsh's other two winners were Luska Lad and Beroni.
