The holy grail for Micko's Dream might once have been the Grand National but after another brilliant victory over the minimum trip at Fairyhouse last night his future now looks to be a speedy one.
The Willie Mullins-trained horse took his career earnings to close on £250,000 when running out an effortless 11-length winner from Mr Baxter Basics with market rival Moscow Express a head back in third.
The Dan Moore Chase was a 10th career victory for Micko's Dream, a second over the minimum trip inside eight days, and Mullins continues to be pleasantly surprised by the speed the nine-year-old seems to have developed.
"He has enjoyed himself again and we will have to seriously think about a two-mile campaign next year," the trainer said as the members of the Sport Racing Club fussed over their horse who had travelled beautifully throughout the contest.
Micko's Dream certainly didn't travel like the stayer he was widely regarded as being and that early fall in the 1999 Aintree Grand National now looks the aberration of another horse.
In the short term Micko's Dream was a 76th winner of the season for jockey Ruby Walsh and the former champion could have reasonably expected to add to his seven-winner margin over the current title holder, Barry Geraghty, later in the evening.
It didn't happen, however. Catch Ball looked the clear form choice for the mares novice final but was pulled up after the third last. "She looks to have been galloped into from behind but she's come back sound," Mullins said.
The race went to the 12 to 1 shot Bondi Storm and the Noel Meade/Paul Carberry team doubled up in the next with the 10 to 1 Paddy's Pet who raced through to beat Oneofourown by a length and a half.
Be My Royal was beaten when falling at the last in the novice hurdle and Walsh had to give best to Geraghty in the opener as Soltero found another gear in the closing stages to edge out Tuesday.
It was Risk Accessor that picked up the Grade Three novice hurdle under Charlie Swan but the J P McManus-owned winner had to survive a stewards' inquiry after getting close to Alpha Blues on the run to the last. "He's a bit of a brat when he hits the front," smiled Swan.
