Timely boost for Liane hopes in Naas

River Liane’s Cheltenham Festival claims received a boost as Made In Taipan strolled to victory at Naas.

The former is a best-priced 9-2 with Coral for Tuesday’s Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle following his five-and-a-half-length romp at Leopardstown last week.

Made In Taipan claimed the runner-up prize that day but he found no such similarly smart rival in the Irish Racing Writers Novice Hurdle.

Davy Russell made virtually all aboard the Tom Mullins-trained 5-2 favourite and barely came out of second clear as he breezed home by 15 lengths from Powerfulpaddy.

Mullins said: “I was very surprised by the price after the performance he put up last week.

“We thought about taking him to Cheltenham this year, but hopefully we can go there over fences next time as I think he will be better over fences.”

Russell later completed a double as Aintree-bound King Johns Castle obliged in the Johnstown Handicap Hurdle.

Arthur Moore’s runner was sent off the 100-30 favourite to snap a frustrating run of three seconds and duly obliged by four lengths after out-staying Gabrona.

“We schooled him over Aintree-style fences and he took to them well so we are going to have a crack at the Grand National,” said Moore.

“He’s basically a fresh horse and will have gained confidence from this. Numbersixvalverde ran in this race (finished third) before going on to win at Aintree.

“It’s nice to have a winner in the run-up to Cheltenham, too.”

River Liane’s trainer Tom Cooper was also in the money as Royal Spring proved most game in the Moate Handicap Chase.

The 9-2 shot was a four-length winner in the hands of ’Slippers’ Madden and Cooper is keen to raise his sights with the eight-year-old next term.

He said: “I’ve no immediate plans for him, but I’m hoping to aim at some of the bigger staying chases next season, although he would need soft ground.”