'That was much more like what he had been showing us at home' - Native Speaker puts on an exhibition in chasing debut win

The withdrawal of Albert Bartlett winner Stellar Story looked as though it was going to reduce the 2m4f beginners' chase to a very ordinary contest. That, though, was before the Henry de Bromhead-trained Native Speaker stepped up to deliver in some style under Darragh O'Keeffe.

The son of Court Cave enjoyed the unseasonably good ground and put in an absolute exhibition of jumping on his second start over fences, with the manner in which he attacked the last two fences when the revs were really up a joyful sight.

His winning margin of four and three-quarter lengths did not flatter him and helped clarify that anything he did over hurdles before this is likely to have been a big bonus.

The six-year-old was coming off a poor chasing debut at Sligo the previous month, and stable representative Robbie Power said: "We were bitterly disappointed with him at Sligo. He didn't turn up for whatever reason, but that was much more like what he had been showing us at home in his schooling and everything. He jumped from fence to fence, and Darragh is riding with such confidence.

"The horse responded well for him. He quickened it up coming down to the second-last and two good jumps sealed the deal. He wants nice ground, so we will see what the weather does. That trip is probably as short as he wants it too – a three-mile chaser is what he is."

Lisleigh justifies Broderick enthusiasm

There was no more enthusiastic trainer on the premises than Fermoy-based Eleanor Broderick, who saddled her first winner under rules at the age of 71 when the Eoin O'Brien-ridden Lisleigh Lad landed the 3m½f hunters' chase.

Broderick said: "I've always dreamed of winning a hunters' chase. I've had ten point-to-point wins, but this is a huge deal for me and for everyone behind me, including my partner Matt Slattery and Grace, who rides out for me along with Eoin O'Brien and Daragh Allen, who are my jockeys.

"My father is born and bred in Listowel, loved hunting, and was involved in the Avondhu Hunt, and I actually rode three point-to-point winners. I wasn't much good but rode with the likes of Timmy and Johnny Callaghan, Pat Healy, Nicky Dee, Jimmy Mangan and even Ted Walsh – they knew I was harmless so were good to me, and I had a good grounding!

"The last time I was here with a horse was 34 years ago with my father when we had a horse called Ashpit finish fourth at Easter."

On Lisleigh Lad, she said: "He wasn’t right last year but was spot on for today. I don’t think he’ll go back pointing now and we’ll stay inside the rails. He’s a great jumper. I have two nice four-year-olds for point-to-points, but they’re big and backward and won’t be running until next year."

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