Walsh on the mark again Ruby Walsh continued a fine weekend`s work as Assessed landed the Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Novice Chase at Leopardstown this afternoon. Walsh, who had landed the feature contest at Cheltenham 24 hours earlier on Rince Ri, gained another big-race success on the Willie Mullins-trained winner. The task of Assessed was made easier when hot favourite Moscow Flyer crashed out at the sixth-last fence. But despite nearly being brought down by that rival and dropping back to last of the six remaining runners as a result, Walsh gathered the 8-1 chance together and a series of fine jumps brought him back upsides leader Phariwarmer. Once asked to quicken, Assessed stretched clear to score in the Grade One event by 11 lengths with a further 25 lengths back to third-placed Mantles Prince. Overnight rain had made conditions very testing but the heavy ground proved no problem to the winner. 'We were slightly lucky with Moscow Flyer falling but it was agood performance,' said Mullins. 'He deserves a crack at Cheltenham now and I wouldn`t be worried about faster ground for him. 'He can go over three miles but he has enough pace for two _ I don`t know what his real trip is but he is a nice horse.' Walsh added: 'It`s very heavy out there but he is a big horse and he kept on galloping.' Assessed was given a 25-1 quote by Paddy Power for the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy, his Festival target, while Moscow Flyer _ who returned largely unscathed from the fall _ remains a 5-1 chance behind 4-1 favourite Seebald. Tony McCoy made his trip to Ireland pay when partnering Direct Bearing to victory in the opening Tote Account 1850 238669 Maiden Hurdle for trainer Dermot Weld.
