Quad takes Gowran gold

Former smart bumper horse and decent novice hurdler Quadrillon got off the mark over fences at the second attempt with a hard-fought success at Gowran Park.

The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old had fallen on his debut over the larger obstacles, but put that right as he made all to grind out a two-and-a-half-length call over the more experienced Pay The Bounty in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase.

“He did it well. He got a nice weight allowance which was a big help,” Mullins said of the Paul Townend-ridden 7-4 favourite.

“He was very unlucky to fall at Fairyhouse when another horse interfered with him.

“He’ll go for a novice chase now. He’ll have no problem going up in trip to three miles and he might be a better horse over a longer trip.”

The well-regarded Tornedo Shay made an impressive start over obstacles in the Bennettsbridge Maiden Hurdle.

Having spent two seasons in bumper company, trainer Thomond O’Mara opted to send him hurdling this term and he was barely troubled in coming home a three-and-a-half-length winner for Davy Russell.

“He needed to do it like that. Essentially he’s a very good jumper but he’s still a bit novicey and we’ll try to improve on that,” said O’Mara.

“We won’t over-face him for the time being. He should be good enough to step up to Graded races after Christmas.”