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Nimble proves a natural for O'Brien

Naturally Nimble got the better of well-touted three-year-old Willy De Houelle in the Grade 3 Bar One Racing 'Price Boosts Across All Channels' Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The latter, trained by Willie Mullins and owned by Rich Ricci, brought hurdling experience to the table from his time in France and was sent off the 1/4 favourite on debut for his new connections.

He looked to be going best coming to the last flight but Richie Deegan was yet to play his hand on Joseph O'Brien's Naturally Nimble, who came with a strong late run to get up and score with a length and a half to spare at odds of 33/1. It was his second run over timber after finishing seventh of 21 in a maiden at Punchestown last Saturday.

There was eight and a half lengths further back to Messerschmitt (17/2) in third.

“He disappointed us a little bit last week so we said we’d hunt around here and see. He did it well,” said Deegan.

“They went a good gallop and the race probably fell apart a little bit in front of us and we were there to pick up the pieces. He stayed at it well.

“He was at a high level on the Flat, so hopefully he can keep coming along. He wants that nice ground.”

Naturally Nimble is now a 16/1 chance with Sky Bet for the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

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Washington made a trip across the Irish Sea worthwhile when landing the Bar One Racing “100% Football Acca Boost On Self Service Betting Terminals” Handicap Hurdle.

Harry Derham’s eight-year-old made a winning stable debut after nearly a year off in October and had long been pencilled in for the Listed event in Ireland.

He was ridden by Paul O’Brien and started as the 4/1 favourite, looking promising from an early stage when travelling well under bottom weight of 10st 4lb. Before long the victory looked assured and he crossed the line five lengths ahead of Barry Connell’s Enniskerry.

“He has very sporting owners. This race closes early and I thought with the ground in Ireland being quite dry this autumn that it might suit us,” said Derham.

“We had it in our mind, obviously it was a huge amount of prize-money and I thought the track would really suit him.

“When he won at Chepstow last time out I considered the Greatwood, but I thought the track wouldn’t suit at all. This place, a big, galloping track, I thought it would be perfect for him. Very rarely in horseracing a plan comes together, but this one actually did!

“This is the biggest race I’ve won so far in my career and it’s very cool because this horse is a little bit older and has a few miles on the clock. To get him back loving it like this and to put in a performance like that was exceedingly satisfying.”

History Of Fashion went one better than last year’s effort to take the Bar One Racing “Guaranteed Overnight Prices” Porterstown Handicap Chase.

Pat Fahy’s gelding missed out by three lengths under Richie Condon 12 months ago and started a 10/1 chance this time when ridden by 7lb claimer Harry Sexton.

On this occasion he was not for beating in the Listed event and in a strongly-contested finish, he battled to success by a length and a quarter.

“He was second in this race last year, with Richie Condon, and it was a great run,” said Fahy.

“It’s a great syndicate from Limerick and Clare, headed by Stephen Murphy. I’m very lucky with the very few owners I have. Only for them there wouldn’t be days like this.

“If you have a few owners, it’s amazing what you can do. They’ll get some kick out of it. It just goes to show that form is form. He loves Fairyhouse and he won around Down Royal the last time. Some tracks he just won’t operate around.

“The ground drying out makes such a difference to this horse. If the ground is soft and loose he can manage but if it was even quicker today, that would be his ground. He ran a similar race last year, but this year he went one better and he was a good fifth in the Irish National.

“It wasn’t a typical National last year and we snuck in. We had a great day out, finished fifth and it was like winning.”

La Malmason returned to form at Fairyhouse for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue.

The six-year-old had undergone surgery for kissing spines after struggling with her jumping last term and the results were clear as she contested the Bar One Racing “Bet 10 Euros Get 50 Euros Sign Up Offer” Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase.

A 10/1 chance for the race, the bay jumped well throughout and was a comfortable four-length winner on the line.

“She was very good. We were clutching at straws with her, but she had kissing spine surgery during the summer and it’s obviously done the trick,” said Cromwell.

“She was making a lot of mistakes last year. We got her checked out at the end of the season and went and found that.

“I’m delighted with the way she jumped there today, Keith said when he jumped the first, he knew she was a different mare. Hopefully she can kick on from here. I haven’t look beyond today, this was the plan. I was a little bit concerned the ground wouldn’t be slow enough for her, she’d appreciate softer going. She’ll definitely get further.

When asked if she could possibly be a Thyestes Chase contender, he added: “You couldn’t rule it out and I wouldn’t rule out an Irish National either.”

Koktail Brut (15/8) took the closing Bar One Racing “Bet Builder On Self Service Betting Terminals” (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race for Gordon Elliott.

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