Darasso does it again and a showdown with Honeysuckle could be next on agenda

Monday: Fairyhouse

Darasso is not the best horse in training, but he might just be the most versatile.

"You can go two miles or three miles with him, you can run him in a chase or a hurdle and no matter where you turn up you kind of know what you are going to get with him. It's very unusual for a horse to be like that," said trainer Joseph O'Brien after the 11th win of the nine-year-old's career, this time in the Grade 2 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle.

It is indeed very unusual to have a horse like Darasso and next on his agenda could be trying to inflict a first defeat on the wondermare Honeysuckle in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday week.

3.50 Fairyhouse: full result and replay

O'Brien said: "We put him in the Champion Hurdle and he could turn up in that and try to sneak around for some prize-money. We'll see how he comes out of today. This was the target.

"He's a little bit short of Grade 1 level but all you can ask for is that they do their best and he's a joy to have around. Luke [Dempsey] gave him a great ride. He has a great rapport with the horse."

During his career, Darasso has taken on the likes of Presenting Percy, Chacun Pour Soi and Honeysuckle. He has won half of his eight starts over fences and is rated 150 in that sphere, while this was his seventh win over hurdles. As well as his 11 wins, he has been placed on a dozen other occasions. As O'Brien said, very unusual indeed.

Easy Game and Brian Hayes land the Grade 2 Devenish Chase for Willie MullinsCredit: Patrick McCann

Mixed emotions for Mullins

The first half of the Grade 2 Devenish Chase could not have gone much worse for Willie Mullins. He lost Blackbow following a horrible fall at the fence in front of the stands on the first circuit, while odds-on favourite Janidil took a crashing fall at the seventh.

The nightmare somehow managed to have a happy ending for Mullins as Easy Game defended his crown under Brian Hayes, seeing off stablemate Cilaos Emery by seven and a half lengths.

On the winner, Mullins said: "I thought the horse would need the race but he finished out very well and jumped well. I'm very happy for Nick Peacock, the owner.

"It's disappointing with Janidil falling and the other fella unfortunately didn't make it. That's the ups and downs of the game."

On the ill-fated Blackbow, he added: "He's a big loss. I'm not sure if he had a heart attack before the fence as he didn't get up at all. He was a gorgeous horse and will be a huge loss to us."

Capilano Bridge and Charlie O'Dwyer win the Fairyhouse Steel Handicap HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

Like father, like son

Father-and-son combination Conor and Charlie O'Dwyer teamed up to take the Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle with Capilano Bridge.

"I said to Charlie not to hang about. I didn't mean for him to do what he did. He really took me at my word!" laughed the winning trainer afterwards.

His 19-year-old son is showing the same sort of potential Conor did a few decades ago. The future is very bright indeed.

Seuil upsets the odds

There was an upset in the Grade 2 Donohue Marquees Juvenile Hurdle as hot favourite Icare Allen could only take third behind
Iberique Du Seuil, who was produced beautifully under Jack Kennedy to land the spoils at 12-1.

"It's great for Noel and Valerie [Moran] at their local track. They're great supporters, so it's brilliant," said trainer Gordon Elliott afterwards.

Results, replays and analysis

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