Six of the best for Nickname

Martin Brassil’s decision to swerve the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham with Nickname because of unsuitable ground paid off as the prolific eight-year-old recorded a smooth win in the Russell Restaurant An Uaimh Chase at Navan.

The 4-9 shot, making it six wins from seven starts for the campaign, jumped into the lead at the second-last and despite tiring in the testing conditions, galloped strongly away from his rivals.

Nickname went on win the two-and-a-half-mile Grade Three contest by 13 lengths from Central House, with long-time leader Jim battling on bravely for third.

But Grand National-winning trainer Brassil admitted to being worried when Jim had built up a commanding lead by halfway.

He said: “I didn’t like Jim winging the last ditch and it was only at the third-last that he came back to them. Nickname has a bit of class, but he probably wasn’t mad about that ground and he was tiring a bit towards the end.

“It’s been a great season and that could be his last run unless the ground was right for him at Punchestown.”

Nickname was completing a short-priced double for his jockey Ruby Walsh, who had been successful on Heavenly Blues (4-5) for his father, Ted, in the opening Russell Restaurant Novice Hurdle.

Walsh said: “Nickname probably wasn’t at his best today, but he probably didn’t have to be. He’s a great little horse.

“It was a brave call by Martin to miss the Champion Chase and it looks the right call now. We’ll see what happens (whether he runs again this season), but he’s more than paid his way,” he told At The Races.

Point Barrow warmed up for the John Smith’s Grand National with an eye-catching display to finish third over hurdles.

The Pat Hughes-trained top-weight made significant progress from the rear to take minor honours behind Kenilworth and That’s Moyne in the Bar-One Racing Handicap Hurdle.

Hughes said: “He’ll go straight to Aintree now as it’s too close to go for the Irish National as well.

“I had to get a run into him, but I didn’t think he’d run as well as he did. I’m delighted.”

Kenilworth (20-1), trained by Oliver Brady, led between the final two flights and soon put the issue beyond doubt to score by 10 lengths from That’s Moyne, with the staying-on Point Barrow just a short head behind.