Review FAIRYHOUSE 18TH APR

Leonard Whitmore and Niki O'Shea enjoyed the biggest wins of their respective careers as they combined with Wishwillow Lord, front-running hero of the Menolly Homes Handicap Hurdle.

His effort seemed set to be in vain as Callow Lake arrived with a strong charge on the run after the bypassed last, but the 33/1 chance (96.40 on tote) gamely found more close home.

An 18th win of the campaign for Co. Kerry-native O'Shea, the Co. Wexford-trained son of Lord Americo is seen as a potential chaser by his handler.

'I was very hopeful beforehand and he might have another run over hurdles, maybe at Killarney early next month.

'We will see how he is after this but he looks like a big chaser and he might start off over fences before we leave him off,' explained Whitmore, who has ten in training.

Tony McCoy registered his fourth success of the Festival when making all the running aboard Glenfinn Captain in the four-runner Grade 2 Novice Hurdle.

With the market-leader, Jazz Messenger jumping poorly and struggling from some way out, it was left to O'Muircheartaigh to provide the main opposition, but he was beaten from before the last.

Tom Taaffe said of his Alderbrook gelding, 'he is a nice staying horse and he jumped well. It would probably be on the greedy side to bring him to Punchestown next week.'

Second in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, Artist's Muse justified odds of 4/6 with the minimum of fuss in the opener for Ted and Ruby Walsh.

Walsh snr commented, 'she was a little unlucky at Cheltenham and she would have went close there if she had jumped as well as she did here.'

Ruby Walsh moved three clear of Barry Geraghty in the race for the jockey's title when following up half-an-hour later on Livingstonebramble in the Dan Moore Chase.

This victory on the Willie Mullins-trained 9/1 shot was achieved in rather fotuitious style, as leader Mansony fell, bringing down Commonchero (12/1 into 9/1) three out.

Those two appeared to have it between them at that stage though Walsh was lying a close third at the time.

A 4 1/2L winner in the end, the 10yo has benefited from a wind operation.

Davy Russell, rider of Mansony, was stood down for the remainder of the day whilst Andrew Lynch, aboard Commonchero, missed later rides as he went for x-rays on his arm.

Pat Fahy's yard is back in form, that point being emphasised when Wills Wilde gave the Carlow outfit their fourth winner in eleven days in the 2m 1f h'cap chase.

Adrian Lane (winning for only the third time this term), gave the 4 1/2L winner a confident ride to beat the veteran, Mr Flowers.

As if to underline the value of following horses from in-form stables, Paul Roche had his third winner in just over a week when Boom Economy caused a 25/1 shock half-an-hour later.

Amateur Niall Halley was gaining his third win under Rules (he also has a point-to-point win to his credit). All of Halley's course wins have come on his mother Linda's Boom Economy.

General Striker put a disappointing display in a point-to-point last time firmly behind him by taking the Joseph R. O'Reilly Hunter Chase for Enda Bolger and Nina Carberry.

There was a real family success for the Harty clan in the bumper as Captain Cee Bee, named after Eddie the trainer's grandfather, beat the well-backed favourite, Big Zeb.

Soon to be record-breaking all-time point-to-point champion rider, John Thomas McNamara steered the twice-previously raced gelding to a 2L win.

One inspired investor in the Jackpot landed a dividend of E18,750. In other news, Denis O'Regan was stood down for the remainder of the afternoon following a fall in the feature.