Lecky Watson denies Rachael Blackmore comeback win 

The Mullins-trained Lecky Watson (Paul Townend) turned over the Blackmore-ridden hotpot and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Slade Steel in the opening Bar One Racing Beginners Chase.

The winner made all and kept the 8-15 favourite at bay by a length and a quarter, with the winner’s stable-companion Blizzard Of Oz a close third.

“That was a good performance, a very good start,” said Mullins. "I was delighted with the way he jumped and settled in front. His attitude to jumping was tremendous and I’d say fences have brought improvement in him. I’d say he might stay at this trip (two and a half miles) for now.” 

Mullins saddled well-touted French import and 1-2 favourite Karoline Banbou for the Gener8 Engineering Mares Maiden Hurdle and duly landed the prize, not with the favourite, but with the Brian Hayes-ridden Baby Kate, who swooped late top deny the market leader, who had mastered Qualimito, by a length and a quarter.

“I thought we were bound for third, but she got to the other two and came home well,” said the winning rider. “She didn’t come out of point-to-points, but jumped great and is quite useful. She’s from a family of Grade One winners and is a nice prospect.”

Mullins was named Manager of the Year at the RTÉ Sports Awards on Sunday night and added: "I was delighted to get it and delighted for racing to get the award.

"I was delighted for everyone in Closutton, you can't be a good manager unless you have good people behind you.

"Also with all our owners, you have to have something to manage. It's great to have the horses and the owners that we have.

"You always feel that racing mightn't be the most popular sport at these sport stars awards, so it's great to see racing getting a look-in as well."

The once-raced Shuffle The Deck, trained for JP McManus by Ted Walsh, looked an exciting prospect when building on his debut third at Punchestown to land the Sign Up To GavinLynch.com Maiden Hurdle.

The Walk In The Park gelding tracked fellow 5-4 joint-favourite Karbau until edging ahead between the last two flights. And Mark Walsh’s mount stayed on to beat Eastern Legend by three and a quarter lengths.

“He did it nicely,” stated Walsh. ”He jumps and stays going and has a good pedigree — his half-brother Verdant Place won in Navan yesterday — and, hopefully, he’ll develop into a nice horse when he goes chasing.

“He’s as good as we’ve had, but he has a long way to go. He’s entered in the Lawlor’s Of Naas (January 5) and will probably got there, unless they (JP McManus) have something better for it.” 

Out of luck with Slade Steel in the opener, Henry de Bromhead struck with a promising newcomer Scope To Improve in the bumper.

Ridden by John Gleeson, the Telescope gelding, winner of his only point-to-point, at Necarne, stayed on dourly up the hill to see off Ifallgoeswell well.

Robbie Power, representing De Bromhead, said: “That was very impressive. It was important for him to relax and settle really well for John (Gleeson), who gave him a lovely ride.

“He crept away, got there very easily, and showed plenty of boot. John said that, if he had known the horse, he would have waited a bit longer. But he’s definitely one to look forward to.” 

In the other action, Eoin Staples, who has ridden 13 point-to-point winners, registered his first racecourse success on board the Shane Crawley-trained Royal Time in the John Thomas McNamara Series (Amateur) Handicap Hurdle.

Philip Dempsey won the Kieron Gammel Handicap Chase with 11-1 shot Hillsdale (Jordan Gainford) while only a short-head separated the Stuart Crawford-trained Interchangeable (Danny Mullins) and Hills Of Glory, whose rider Keith Donoghue received a two-day whip ban, in the Bar One Racing Maiden Hurdle.