Review fairyhouse 29th Jan

< Alaivan could be heading for the Cheltenham Festival after a relatively straightforward victory over Carlito Brigante in a two-horse race for the feature event at Fairyhouse.

Sent off the 1-3 favourite for the Corporate Hospitality At Fairyhouse Hurdle, Edward O'Grady's charge sat in second off a steady pace all the way and was brought up to challenge at the second flight from home.

Andrew McNamara looked to have plenty up his sleeve, but there was a brief duel and the pair jumped the last together before Alaivan forged ahead to win by four lengths from his eased-down opponent.

Paul Carberry looked to have the New Tote Daily Double Beginners Chase in the bag when he swept into the lead on the Tony Martin-trained Montan (9-2).

But Killultagh Queen put in a slicker jump at the last and got back in front before Carberry rousted his mount along to score by a head.

The jockey was completing a double initiated by top-weight Chino Valdes for whom first-time blinkers seemed to do the trick in the Easter Festival 2011 Handicap Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott's six-year-old (8-1) could hardly have won any easier, sauntering up to the leaders after the second-last and coasting clear on the run-in to score by two lengths.

Martin was another to record a double as Elcanos (14-1) led approaching the last under Robbie Moran and cleared away to take the Ian Smith Novice Handicap Hurdle by six lengths.

Paddy Flood sent the Dessie Hughes-trained Canaly into the lead between the final two flights in the Tote Placepot Races 1 To 6 Maiden Hurdle and the 6-1 shot kept on strongly to win.

The result looked unlikely when Johnny McGeeney arrived pulling double jumping the last, but the joint-favourite was run out of it by a short head despite edging in front at one stage.

Tom Nagle's The Sneezer (10-1) ran his rivals ragged from the front under Tom Doyle to take the St Paul's Children With Autism Challenge Handicap Chase by 14 lengths.