Paul Carberry and Noel Meade combined for a double at Navan yesterday, highlighted by the facile success of Hill Society, who kept his unbeaten record over fences intact in the Irish Field Novice Chase. Carberry, successful earlier aboard Fiddlers Bow V1 for the local handler after a blanket finish to the Burtown Wood Handicap Hurdle, simply toyed with market rival Private Peace after the turnin.
With Carberry virtually motionless on the Law Society gelding, the pair edged past Private Peace, who came under pressure approaching the final obstacle. Despite Charlie Swan regaining the initiative over the last, Carberry, in typical cheeky fashion, coaxed his mount to lead again to score with the minimum of fuss.
"I suppose we were worried about the two and a half miles but he did it very well. He'll go on to Fairyhouse for the Drinmore Chase and we'll see after that," said Meade, before adding: "The Dennys Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas would also be on our mind, not to mention the Arkle at Cheltenham."
Promalee justified favouritism in the Elverstown Novice Hurdle to complete his third win from four outings over timber this season. The Aidan O'Brien-trained five-year-old, who lost his unbeaten tag at Tipperary last month when going down to Go Roger Go after starting at 1 to 3, edged away from the well-supported Rith Dubh after the last to run out the three-and-a-half length victor.
The stewards inquired into the apparent improvement in form of the Christy Roche-trained runnerup and after hearing the evidence noted the explanations.
Joe Crowley, father-in-law of the winning handler, nominated the £25,000 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle over two miles at Fairyhouse later this month next for Promalee. "Charlie said today's trip (2m 4f) suited, but we'll have to run in the Fairyhouse contest and it will be no disgrace if he's beaten as they are all going for that race," he remarked.
Nick Dundee, formerly trained by Eugene O'Sullivan when slamming the opposition in a Clonmel bumper 12 months ago, carried the colours of new owner Susan Magnier to an impressive 20lengths victory in the opening Kilteel Maiden Hurdle under Norman Williamson.
Eddie Hales, who spent five years as assistant to Kim Bailey in Lambourn before setting up in Ron Shaw's Kill, Co Waterford, base in September, saddled his first winner since acquiring a licence when Macnamarasband, Jamie Osborne's only mount of the afternoon, won the Copelands Handicap Chase.
"I've about 20 horses in at the moment, mainly point-to-pointers, and that's what I'm here for," said Lincolnshire-born Hales, who explained why he had booked Osborne for the ride.
"We go back a long way and started out in racing together. He was free this afternoon and said he would travel, so naturally I'm delighted to provide him with a winner."
After Entour had finished fifth to the gambled-on To Your Honour in the bumper, at a subsequent stewards' inquiry her trainer Tony Mullins was fined £500 "for using the racecourse as a training ground", rider Philip Fenton was suspended for 21 days and the horse was banned from racing for 42 days.
The ex-Dermot Weld-trained Casey Tibbs was one of 10 withdrawals from the Grade Three Knickerbocker Handicap at Aqueduct after the race was switched from the turf to the dirt course owing to bad weather.
