Crosshue Boy and Harley Dunne lead over the last fence from Fire In His Eyes© Photo Healy Racing
Crosshue Boy landed a quick hat-trick when running out a game winner of the Guinness Rated Novice Chase at Down Royal.
Harley Dunne was again on board the Sean Doyle-trained having partnered him to success at Wexford on Saturday.
The pair won the early battle for the lead with Fire In His Eyes and repelled the challenge of that same rival in the closing stages.
The 6/4 favorite was ridden up to challenge going to the second last but couldn't match Crosshue Boy on the run-in as the 5/2 shot found more to record a length-and-a-quarter success.
"It's been a massive week from Leopardstown Friday week ago to Wexford to here. We were lucky this was called off (on Saturday) as we couldn't have run in two places on the one day,” said Doyle.
"He's a fabulous horse when he's on form. He had a couple of good bumper runs and won three times over hurdles for me and then he just lost his way. We didn't know what was wrong with him but we gave him a break and he just started coming back to himself slowly.
"We are absolutely delighted. Hopefully there will be a race in Aintree for him, it would be great to have a runner over there. It will be one of the novice chases, we'll keep him a novice for the meantime. If that works out we'll go on to Punchestown for something similar. Trip and ground aren't a problem to him.
"Jumping is a big key to him and in fairness JJ (Slevin) was brilliant on him in Leopardstown but Harley does a lot of work and is closely related to Niall (Heffernan, owner) and he's brilliant on him too.
"I usually only get three wins a year so I am ahead of my target!"
Unfortunately Kopookris was pulled up quickly going to the second last having appeared to suffer a serious injury.
(Quotes by Michael Graham)
