House Books Festival Ticket

Central House is firmly on course for the Queen Mother Champion Chase after bouncing back to form in the Byrne Group plc Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.

Dessie Hughes? nine-year-old had been a huge disappointment at Fairyhouse two weeks ago but he propelled himself back into the Cheltenham Festival picture with a six-length success over Jim.

'We?ll go straight to Cheltenham with him now. He can go two miles at a really good pace and keep it up,' Hughes said.

'There was no doubting his performance today - he has beaten them fair and square.

'His effort petered out at Cheltenham last year but he is a much stronger horse this time round.

'He?s holding on to his condition much better this season.'

Central House?s victory also marked the end of a nightmare chapter for jockey Roger Loughran.

He picked up a 14-day ban over Christmas when he seemingly had a Grade One event at Leopardstown sewn up on Central House, only to mistake the winning post and eventually finish third.

However, both Hughes and the horse?s owner John Kenny stood by the young jockey and he repaid their faith with a canny front-running ride aboard the 11-4 shot.

'This is the high point of my career so far,' Loughran told At The Races.

'Everything has worked out OK in the end. The horse was brilliant today.

'The ban seemed like a very long time to be sat on the sidelines but the connections have stood by me and I?m very grateful.

'Dessie Hughes is a very fair man and he?s stood behind me the whole way - he?s been brilliant.

'Dessie told me he can go along at any pace I wanted and that?s what I did today on him. He could have done with some company but he?s picked up twice for me in the straight.'

Mounthenry registered a minor surprise when lifting the Grade Two Byrne Group plc Novice Hurdle at the expense of 10-11 favourite Iktitaf.

The Charles Byrnes-trained winner was sent off a 3-1 shot after he had finished third behind Noel Meade?s runner in a Grade One event at Fairyhouse in December.

However, a 7lb pull in the weights and a positive ride from Andrew McNamara helped the six-year-old claim the prize by one and a half lengths.

'He is a tough horse and he didn?t run over Christmas because he didn?t get his conditions,' McNamara said.

'I didn?t really want to make the running on him and luckily Ceeawayhome came with us for a bit which helped me get him into a rhythm.

'I didn?t ride him in the Royal Bond but it seemed to me like they went too slow for him that day so I thought we may as well make it a test today and it worked.

'Going to the second last I thought he (Iktitaf) was going to pick me up for speed but my fellow went on again.'

It later transpired Iktitaf had suffered a bad cut to his near fore knee which will definitely force him out of the Cheltenham Festival and possibly the rest of the season.

Native Jack (5-1) is set to head straight to Cheltenham after taking the Western Pleasure P.P Hogan Memorial Chase over the cross-country course

The 12-year-old, who was only bought by connections on Tuesday, came home seven lengths clear of Ted Walsh?s Never Compromise - another set to run in the Festival cross-country chase.

Spot Thedifference, a regular for trainer Enda Bolger in these events, failed to sparkle and eventually stayed on to finish sixth.

Willie Mullins unleashed yet another smart bumper performer as Shady Willow (9-10) galloped to a seven-length victory in the Rockview INH Flat Race.

The four-year-old was well supported on the track and Ruby Walsh?s sister, Katie, kicked on at the final bend to come home unchallenged.

He was given a quote of 12-1 by Cashmans for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

? PA Sport