Brilliant Blackmore shines again as Notebook lands Irish Arkle

Rachael Blackmore further established herself as one of the very best big-race jockeys after inspiring Notebook to a tough success in the ERSG Arkle Novice Chase.

The market suggested Fakir D'Oudairies was his main rival but he was pulled out shortly before the race due to the drying ground. However, the Willie Mullins-trained Cash Back certainly made a race of it for Gigginstown's chaser.

Notebook looked to have the race in control as they turned in with Cash Back off the bridle. But that rival rallied gamely up the straight, forcing Blackmore to work hard and eventually see off the challenge as they hit the line.

The seven-year-old is now as short as 5-2 to land the Racing Post Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival next month.

Fakir D'Oudairies withdrawal came after A Plus Tard missed his engagement from Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, with concerns growing about the drying ground.

The going is currently described as yielding and the weather sunny at Leopardstown.

The second day of last year's Dublin Racing Festival was marred by 26 non-runners, 22 of which were due to the fast conditions.

Latest Exhibition ends Grade 1 drought for Nolan and Cooper in DRF opener

A weekend of high-class action at the Dublin Racing Festival started with a bang as Latest Exhibition battled bravely to win, giving Paul Nolan a first Grade 1 win since 2013.

The seven-year-old was sent off a 7-2 chance in the Nathaniel Lacy and Partners Solicitors-backed Novice Hurdle and was kept handy throughout the race by rider Bryan Cooper.

He was one of four who travelled strongly into it before enduring a close fight up the home straight. But he showed his superiority, staying on bravely to defeat Cobbler's Way and Longhouse Poet.

Latest Exhibition: Grade 1 success for Paul Nolan in the openerCredit: Caroline Norris

It provides Nolan a first top-level win since Defy Logic's Racing Post Novice Chase win in 2013, while it is Cooper's first success at that level since Apple's Jade Punchestown festival victory in 2017.

Latest Exhibition is now as short as 5-1 (from 12-1) for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, a second favourite to Thyme Hill.

His only defeat over hurdles came when second to Supreme Novices' Hurdle fancy Abacadabras over two miles.

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