Exciting Mr Coldstone impresses on hurdles bow after 891-day lay-off

New Year's Day at Tramore was all about Al Boum Photo, but the afternoon could hardly have started any better for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend when Mr Coldstone made an impressive transition to hurdling in the opening maiden hurdle over 2m.

The five-year-old had previously had three Flat starts for Johnny Murtagh over 5f, 6f and 7f – posting a maximum Racing Post Rating of 69 in July 2018 – but had clearly improved for the switch to hurdling and ran out a ready winner at an easy-to-back 8-1.

"He put up a nice performance," said Mullins of the David Bobbett-owned gelding, who had been off the course for 891 days. "He jumped well and took a good blow, so Paul thinks he should improve again.

"We'll go up in grade with him. I thought this might be a big ask today, but he did it well."

Minella Escape and Rachael Blackmore win the 2m5f maiden hurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Escape makes amends for Punchestown bad luck

Henry de Bromhead looks to have a lovely chasing prospect in Minella Escape, who made it third time lucky under rules at 2-1, seeing off a well-backed Willie Mullins-trained newcomer Gorki D'Airy, the 5-4 favourite.

The point-to-point winning six-year-old held every chance when coming down at the last at Punchestown two starts ago and picked up due compensation here, giving the impression that the best of him will be seen over fences in time.

De Bromhead said: "He was a little bit unlucky the first day and was off for a bit before Navan, and I wonder did that just catch him out. He's a lovely horse. He won his point-to-point well and the way he jumped there you'd be looking forward to a fence with him in time."

Shakeytry gets O'Grady off to a flyer

Edward O'Grady got his 2021 off to a flying start after sending out the versatile Shakeytry to win the 2m handicap hurdle, obliging in good style under Phillip Enright.

Up and over: Shakeytry clears the last flight to win the 2m handicap hurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The winning trainer said of the 7-2 favourite: "He's very rarely been out of the first four and that's his third win. The boys in the yard have done a great job with him because he hasn't got great legs; they've kept him right and deserve great credit."

In-form O'Keeffe at his best on Lessofdnegativity

Fresh from plundering the Savills Chase earlier in the week, the in-form Darragh O'Keeffe was at it again, getting up to win on Lessofdnegativity in the 2m5f handicap hurdle for Croom-based Andrew McNamara.

The Cork native got a dream run up the inner and was seen at his strongest, lifting home the eight-year-old for his first success since a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle win in September 2019.

Robbie McNamara, representing his father, said: "He had a little wind operation since his last run. We just rode him a bit different today and gave him more of a chance early. Darragh took his time and gave him a brilliant ride – he's worth his weight in gold."

Results, replays and analysis

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