Racing Navan reportMoscow Flyer got his season off to the expected smooth start at Navan yesterday but there was nothing smooth about Hardy Eustace's odds on failure in the Lismullen Hurdle.
The SunAlliance hurdle hero was fighting a losing battle from before half way and eventually trailed the all-the-way winner Rosaker by eight lengths.
"He was flat the whole way. There was nothing there, nothing in him. I know he is laid back but this is a different ball game," reported Conor O'Dwyer who was riding Hardy Eustace for the first time in public.
"I rode him over a few hurdles a few days ago and he was absolutely electric. But I was asking him with a circuit to go here and he wasn't picking up," he added.
Cashmans reacted by putting Hardy Eustace out to 16 to 1 from 10 for the Stayers' Hurdle and introduced Rosaker at 20 to 1.
There were no such dramatics after Moscow Flyer's front running display and the reigning two-mile champion remains a 5 to 2 joint favourite with Azertyuiop to retain his crown.
"That's step number one, now we can look at the Tingle Creek; and I can sleep!" said a relieved Jessica Harrington.
"Barry (Geraghty) said he would make the running and I'm very happy with the way he shortened up when he had to. We'll take it race by race but all roads will lead to Cheltenham," she added.
"That was only practice for him," was Geraghty's happy report.
Relief was also the primary emotion after Accordion Etoile overcame Newmill to score in the Grade Three For Auction Novice Hurdle.
"Thank God he is what we always thought he was," said trainer Paul Nolan.
"If he stays sound I am very hopeful he could go all the way." The Grade One Royal Bond Hurdle at Fairyhouse is a probable target for the winner but Nolan added: "All credit to my farrier David O'Connell who uses glue-on shoes on the horse. He is moving far better with them."
The defection of Nil Desperandum from the Beginners' Chase left it open for the former Cheltenham hero Sausalito Bay who duly jumped round to win well.
"He fractured his pelvis in the Hattons Grace (2000) and stood in his stall for three months not allowed to move or lie down. To get him back at all is a miracle," said trainer Noel Meade. "He probably can't be as good as he was but he jumped round and I'm delighted with him," he added.
Jim Culloty rode Montayral to victory in the feature City Life Cork Grand National Handicap Chase yesterday. Winning handler Pat Hughes's always prominent 12 to 1 shot sprinted away on the run in for a two-length win after being hampered by a loose horse on the run down to the last.
