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Review GOWRAN PARK 18TH FEB

Barry Geraghty, registered a short-priced treble in the opening races, highlighted by Macs Joy's 2/5 victory in the featured Red Mills Trial Hurdle.

He jumped to the front three out past the pace-setting Asian Maze, and the mare soon dropped to rear before finding her second wind to finish a 4 1/2L 2nd.

Jessica Harrington, completing a double after Brutto Facie's win in the first, commented, 'we'll go to Cheltenham now with all guns blazing.

'The ground was pretty sticky and he would want it better. Hopefully he'll end up firing at the right end of the season.'

Macs Joy remains a general second favourite for the Champion Hurdle. Asian Maze ran what can be considered a most satisfactory trial for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Front-running favourite Jim had no answer to Forget The Past under Geraghty when they took over three out in the Red Mills Chase.

He was clear from the next and was eased close home for a comfortable 2 1/2L success. The British-bred is due for a quick reappearance now at Fairyhouse next Saturday.

Michael O'Brien, his trainer said, 'he is in the Bobbyjo Chase over 3m 1f and we will see after that if he is a Gold Cup horse or not. His odds for the Blue Riband have been cut in all lists.

Brutto Facie (5/2 into 13/8) appreciated dropping in class in the opener, Geraghty's mount always to the fore, having his race won when ridden clear from two out.

Mrs Harrington said, 'he jumped great, I don't think he put a foot wrong and he will be better on better ground.'

A 23,000 guineas purchase in July out of the Michael Jarvis yard, Yameell stepped up on a promising hurdling debut in the 4yo maiden for David Marnane and Davy Russell.

Liam Burke's Sir Frederick ran in the words of his trainer, 'stink' at Limerick over Christmas but he bounced back to form on his h'cap bow in the 2m 4f hurdle.

Kevin Coleman's mount led two out and the 16/1 chance proved too strong for Vintage Port by 2L. His handler suggested that he will make a chaser and may be best running fresh.

Gambled on favourite, The Fingersmith could manage no better than 13th. Andrew McNamara also provided the market-leader in the next, Darc Leader but he had to settle for 3rd.

Edward O'Grady's runners don't often start at 14/1 in what was an ordinary event, but Mister Buttons defied those odds in the maiden hurdle with Paddy Flood up.

That race saw the Jackpot pool go by. Navan tomorrow is now boosted by a rollover of E5,474.

Barry Connell and his Oran Flyer, winner of a point-to-point and an encouraging ninth on his racecourse debut, dented some reputations in the bumper.

The Philip Fenton-trained 16/1 shot led a furlong out and went away to beat Wolfhill, who had led up to that point, by 4 1/2L.