With 6/4 favourite Arctic Mick and the gambled-on Short Grass (12s this morning into 100/30) failing to figure, the first-time blinkered Chino Valdes grabbed the limelight when bolting up in the Easter Festival 2011 at Fairyhouse Handicap Hurdle.
From the Gordon Elliott stable, successful with Plan A at Gowran yesterday and also on the mark at the point-to-point in Tyrella today, Chino Valdes led before the last and he went on to very cheekily snugly prevail by two lengths from Kings Army
Elliott was at the point-to-point and winning owner Stephen McCormack said of the Craigsteel gelding (stands at Michael Hickey's Garryrichard Stud): "It was Gordon's idea to put the blinkers on him, he felt they'd sharpen him up and they've obviously done the trick."
McCormack is in the herbs and fresh salads business and he is from Kilteel.
