Chasing next on the agenda for Nicanor

NICANOR, winner of the SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at Cheltehnam, got an enterprising drive from champion-elect Ruby Walsh in the Dunboyne Castle Hotel and Spa Champion Novice Hurdle.

Walsh was enjoying his 90th success of the campaign, nine clear of Barry Geraghty, and will be crowned after racing this afternoon.

Nicanor is a hold-up horse, but the early pace was a crawl and Walsh soon took the bull by the horns and allowed Nicanor lead going to the second.

Noel Meade's charge was awkward over the final flight, but held on well in the closing stages to beat Mounthenry by a length.

“I was really worried about the ground and hope he will be alright”, reported a concerned Meade.

“There was a lot of pressure, but Ruby was a great sub. Having him on your side takes off a lot of the pressure.

“I have always thought Nicanor might be a Gold Cup horse and the plan is to go chasing next season.

“The SunAlliance looks the obvious race for him, but he seems to be getting faster so it could be the Arkle.”

The Gerry Keane trained Howaya Pet, absent since making no show in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park in January, landed a tasty touch in the Ellen Construction Conyngham Cup Handicap Chase.

“We backed her this morning at 50-1”, admitted Keane. The mare was returned at 16-1.

Howaya Pet hit the front coming away from the second last to beat Hot Weld, who made a near-disastrous blunder at the fourth from home.

Said Keane: “We just couldn't get her right all season, but she came to herself in the last month and was flying at home.” Howaya Pet is in foal to Beneficial.

Olney Lad, a 25-1 shot, proved the first British winner of the week when taking the betfair.com Novice Handicap Chase.

The seven-year-old is in the care of little-known trainer, Renee Robeson, who has only 10 horses in her yard.

“This is terribly exciting, I cannot believe it has happened”, exclaimed Ms Robeson.

Olney Lad dug deep in the closing stages for Jimmy McCarthy to beat Wolf Creek by a length and a half. McCarthy comes from Skibbereen, Co Cork, and this was a first success for him in his native country.

Tony McCoy rode his first winner of the week when powering Dermot Weld's Kinger Rocks ahead before the final flight to land the Flogas Ireland Novice Hurdle.

“She's a great jumper and loves fast ground”, said Weld.

“She will go back to the flat, for a handicap at the Curragh on Derby Day, and, of course, will be heading west.”

Wonderkid, beaten by Abram's Bridge earlier in the week, emphatically reversed the placings in Kildare Hunt Club Chase.

Abram's Bridge looked the likely winner when edging ahead before two out, but Johnny Farrelly got a real run from the winner, who swept past at the final fence to score going away by four lengths.

* The attendance was 29,257 and overall attendance for the week was 85,057.