Zarak The Brave slashed for Triumph glory after impressive hurdling debut

Tuesday: Fairyhouse

Zarak The Brave was cut to a general 12-1 (from 33) for the JCB Triumph Hurdle after making a deeply impressive Irish and hurdles debut in the juvenile maiden.

In a race run at a proper gallop, Paul Townend's mount was some way off the pace, but the French-bred gelding showed a telling turn of foot to take it up before the second-last and he flew the final two flights to score by ten lengths from newcomer Rightsotom.

An impressed Townend said: "He did most things right. I was surprised with the turn of foot he showed and it landed me in front at the second-last. He stayed at it well and I think there's a bit to work with there."

He added: "He winged the second-last and it was a matter of getting over the last. He is going to come on for that and he's a nice prospect."

Eric stars in Elliott double

Eric Bloodaxe, who was a good staying novice hurdler last season, made a successful debut for Gordon Elliott in the feature 2m4f conditions hurdle, and there has to be a fair chance the imposing son of Saint Des Saints will be heading over fences in the near future.

The second leg of a double on the day for Elliott and Jack Kennedy, the winner jumped well throughout as he disposed of his market rival Captain Conby by two and three-quarter lengths to give championship leader Kennedy his 50th winner of the season.

Elliott said: "There should be plenty of improvement in him, he had a good blow there. He takes a lot of work. He's a massive horse and very hard to get fit."

Asked if he would be going chasing, Elliott replied: "I was thinking of it and then I saw this race. He could go chasing now. He's a grand horse."

The first leg of the double came in the 2m maiden hurdle in which the betting was dominated by favourite The Short Go and hurdles debutant The Big Doyen, but they were upstaged by 10-1 shot Caldwell Diamond, who was having his second run over hurdles after failing to win in three bumper starts.

"He's a big horse and you can see why he didn't win a bumper. I thought he would come on for the run, but he galloped to the line," Elliott said.

O'Sullivan dominates the divisions

Rider Michael O'Sullivan continues to catch the eye, and he had armchair rides in both divisions of the 2m4f handicap hurdle.

The Liz Doyle-trained Clody Valley came from well off the pace to win the first division by eight lengths, while Emancipator travelled a bit closer to the pace but won the second division with equal ease, also by eight lengths, for Terence O'Brien.

The two winners were 15lb and 14lb well in respectively on their hurdle marks compared to over fences. Not for long.

Results, replays and analysis

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