Ruby shines again
Ruby Walsh is officially back in business after Scotsirish provided the jockey with a first victory since his return from injury.
Walsh has been out of action since rupturing his spleen in a fall at Cheltenham last month – and only made his comeback on Friday.
He could not have received a more welcoming pick-me-up, however, as Scotsirish stormed to Grade Two honours in the O’Connell Logistics Hilly Way Chase at Cork.
Walsh was spotted making eyecatching progress early in the straight and seized the initiative from Newmill with a fluent jump two out.
Nearest pursuer Wanango took a heavy fall at the last which paved the way clear for Willie Mullins’ charge to win by 16 lengths.
Stan James cut the winner into 66-1 from 100s for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Walsh said: “He didn’t get three miles the last day in Thurles.
“The Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas might come a bit soon, but we’ll see how he comes out of this first.
“There are plenty of options in two-mile races like the Norman Groves Chase at Fairyhouse in January and the Woodlands Chase at Navan.”
The Bishop Looney emerged a plucky winner of the Grade Three O’Connell Transport Cork Stayers Novice Hurdle.
An accomplished scorer at the course in November, the Tom Nagle-trained four-year-old glided over the second-last hurdle to gain a comprehensive lead over the flagging Pomme Tiepy.
Nagle’s 10-1 shot then needed to show plenty of guts to repel the challenge of 33-1 outsider Part Presenting by two lengths. Pomme Tiepy, the 4-5 favourite, finished third.
Nagle said: “There’s the Slaney Hurdle at Naas in the new year and we might look at that.
“If he goes there, I doubt if he’ll run over the Christmas period.”
The Bishop Looney was introduced into Cashmans’ betting at odds of 16-1 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Hill Fairy (25-1) did not need to break sweat to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Lombardstown Mares Novice Chase.
Winning owner/trainer John Morrison said: “She fell a few times over hurdles, but it was because she was jumping them too big.
“It was her first run over fences but I had no worries about coming here.
“She was wasting too much time in the air over hurdles and was jumping them like fences.
“I’ll aim her at similar types of Pattern races for mares and there’s a Grade Three at Thurles in January.”
