Dream return for Carberry

Championship pacesetter Paul Carberry came back from injury with a high-profile winner at Navan this afternoon as the favourite Micko`s Dream landed the Fortria Chase.

Out of action for the previous eight days, Carberry had to be at his strongest on Micko`s Dream (11-10) to deny last year`s winner Native Upmanship a repeat success for the Arthur Moore stable.

A beaten favourite at Gowran Park last month on his seasonal return, Micko`s Dream stripped much fitter this time and took up the running soon after half-way for the Willie Mullins stable.

In the home straight Carberry`s mount looked set for a clear-cut victory until Conor O`Dwyer got a response from Native Upmanship between the last two fences to leave the issue tight at the last.

Micko`s Dream`s two length lead was whittled away early on the run-in but the horse responded bravely for Carberry to score by a length as Native Upmanship began to feel the pinch.

Carberry was expected to win the Philips Electronics Lis Mullen Hurdle aboard the odds-on favourite Limestone Lad who carried top weight.

However this renowned front-runner could never establish his customary long lead in the five-runner event on near-perfect jumping ground and the second favourite Liss A Paoraigh was travelling better rounding the last bend in the hands of former champion Charlie Swan.

Carberry`s forcing tactics on Limestone Lad came undone when Swan`s mount moved alongside going to the final flight and the 2-1 chance quickened to lead on the climb to the post as the pair both came under pressure.

Winning trainer John Kiely was delighted with his mare`s performance although she was in receipt of 8lb from the favourite and he may saddle her next for the Hatton`s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse next month.

Liss A Paoraigh is now 12-1 for the Stayers` Hurdle at Cheltenham next March with Limestone Lad 10-1. The French-trained Baracouda is 2-1 favourite with 6-1 Bannow Bay.

Swan doubled up in the EBF Premier Hurdle confined to fillies aboard the 6-4 favourite Sheer Frustration before Golden Storm landed the EBF Beginners Chase for Frances Crowley`s stable at the same time as her star performer Sackville was winning the featured Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.