Not often do bookmakers see result after result go against them, but at Down Royal yesterday it would be difficult to imagine anything other than an air of gloom amongst the layers as five of the six favourites obliged.
For trainer Al O'Connell and rider Tom Treacy it would have been quite the opposite as the duo combined to score a double.
Crooked Mile initiated the brace in division two of the two mile maiden hurdle. A frustrating sort in the words of his handler, the 4/5 shot broke his duck here in really good fashion.
Going to the front full of running before the penultimate flight, this strapping son of Be My Native never had to be asked any sort of question by Treacy to record a comfortable victory.
Burnt Out made it two for the pair in the following event. Despite proving a market drifter (2/1 to 7/2), the daughter of Anshan scored a very easy eight length success.
Whilst Crooked Mile was referred to as a chaser in the making, Burnt Out was only having her initial start over flights and is now likely to compete in handicap company.
Kampala's win in the other divide of this contest was achieved in similarly convincing style, David Casey's mount dispensing with Allaboveboard by nine lengths.
Winning trainer, Willie Mullins may eventually go novice chasing with the French-bred who is related to 2002 champion hurdler, Hors La Loi III.
It wasn't any great surprise to hear Dessie Hughes also mention the chasing arena for his Admiral Brown who got off the mark over flights in the opener.
The always prominent half-brother to Colonel Braxton jumped well in the hands of Barry Geraghty but had to dig deep on the run in to prevail by a length.
Derawar also had to work hard to follow up his Navan victory from last Saturday in the handicap hurdle. Racing with a mandatory 6Ib penalty, the top-weight led two out under Danny Howard.
However Arthur Moore's drifting market-leader had to show plenty of determination from the last to hold off Treize Mars and Ruby Walsh.
Bookmakers didn't get any respite in the bumper, as the well-backed newcomer, Black Apalachi triumphed by eight lengths under David Porter for Philip Rothwell.
