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Monkfish again outdid his old rival Latest Exhibition in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown.
There was very little between the pair when Monkfish just prevailed in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, and they dominated the finish in this Grade One too.
Paul Nolan’s Latest Exhibition arrived on the back of a slightly disappointing defeat in Grade Two company last time out, having won on his chasing debut, but he did have the benefit of one extra run over fences.
Monkfish took over the running just after halfway for Paul Townend – and just as he had on his chasing bow, jumped with aplomb.
However, while at one stage it looked like he may just pull further clear, Bryan Cooper moved Latest Exhibition up alongside him on the run to the second last.
There was nothing between them as they raced at full pelt around the final bend and approached the last fence – and both met it on a decent stride.
After the last Monkfish (1-2 favourite) just had a bit more speed, though, and Willie Mullins’s giant pulled three lengths clear as the champion trainer registered yet another notable Christmas success.
Concertista confirmed her superiority over Minella Melody with another smooth win in the Advent Insurance Irish EBF Mares Hurdle.
A winner at Cheltenham in March, she was a smooth scorer on her return to action and after her latest win looks sure to take plenty of beating is she travels back to the Cotswolds in the spring.
Dropped in off the pace by Townend as Rachael Blackmore set a stiff tempo on Minella Melody, the 4-5 favourite made ground easily before coming away to win by six and a half lengths and continue Mullins’s domination of the meeting.
Betfair cut her to 3-1 for the Mares’ Hurdle in March.
“She was very good,” said Mullins. “It was a searching pace. We thought Mary Frances would go on, but Rachael went ahead. That suited our other mare My Sister Sarah.
“Paul elected to drop in, and I thought he might be a little too far out of it turning into the back straight. The pace up front got her back into the race. She was very brave and very good to do what she did there today.
“I’d imagine the Mares’ Hurdle is the target. She’d look nicely positioned for that race.
“We’ll come back here first for the Dublin Racing Festival. She’s improving all the time.”
Stattler was another winner for Mullins and Townend when fending off stablemate Glens Of Antrim in the Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle.
Successful on his racecourse debut last season, he had failed to win in three outings since. But the form of his maiden hurdle effort was boosted by the winner, who subsequently went close in graded company.
Townend appeared to have everything under control before Mark Walsh arrived with his challenge on Glens Of Antrim but the 13-8 favourite had enough left to win by three lengths.
“He’s a galloper and a chaser in the making,” said Townend.
“He handled that trip in a maiden, and I’d say he can always step up in trip. He improved from his first run.”
Midnight Maestro’s win in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase may not register with an especially wide audience, but it is a race jockey Tom Kelly will never forget.
Not only was it his first winner under rules, but he had never even ridden one in a point-to-point either.
Winning trainer Enda Bolger said: “That was nice. I was a small bit worried when they took out the last fence, because he’s a great jumper.
“That’s Tom’s first winner, and I’m delighted for him. He’s been working for us for the last year. He’s well able to do the light weights, so he’ll get his chances.
“This horse will probably end up going down the cross-country route as well.”