Like-A-Butterfly leapt to the head of the ante-post market for Cheltenham's Arkle Trophy Chase when reappearing after a long lay-off to make an impressive debut over fences in the two miles beginners chase.
The Christy Roche-trained mare, who justified her tag as the Irish banker at Cheltenham 2002 when landing the Supreme Novices Hurdle and added to her Grade 1 haul in the Irish Champion Hurdle the following year, has been off the course since Aintree last year due to a tendon injury.
However Conor O'Dwyer oozed confidence throughout as the ten-year-old mare jumped superbly, cruising clear with the minimum of fuss to beat Aye Aye Popeye by four lengths. Newmill, one of last season's top novice hurdlers and also making his debut over fences, was eased when beaten after the last to finish fifth.
'I'm over the moon about her as I didn't think she could win,' said Roche before adding, 'She's 25 kilos above her normal racing weight, and should improve a lot from this. She has always been a soft ground mare, and we had to leave her off last year after she did some damage to a tendon.'
Cashmans went a top-priced 12/1 about the J P McManus-owned mare for the 'Arkle' (just 8/1 with Boylesports), while the Durkan New Homes Chase (formerly the Dennys) could be a more immediate target.
Paul Nolan and John Cullen continued their fine recent run of form when taking the featured Woodlands Park 100 Poplar Square Chase with Colnel Rayburn. The Un Desperado gelding dug deep under pressure on the run-in to overhaul John James, and held off the renewed challenge of Central House by a length and a half.
'I've sometimes questioned his attitude in the past but he was very genuine today and seems to be maturing. That was a nice surprise, and he'll go for staying handicaps like the Paddy Power at Leopardstown and the Midlands National at Uttoxeter,' said Nolan.
Almier made all under David Flannery in the two miles handicap hurdle, and the Michael Hourigan-trained grey stretched clear between the final two flights to beat Coccinelle by six lengths. 'He was a bit unlucky here (fell at the last) last time but made amends today, and we'll find another handicap. David gave him a fine ride, and has the makings of a jockey,' said Hourigan.
Homer Wells surprised connections when getting up close home under Davy Condon to deny favourite Tigerlion in the two miles and three furlongs maiden hurdle. The six-year-old relished the testing conditions, and benefited from a last flight blunder by Tigerlion to score by a neck with the winner's stablemate Mr Babbage three and a half lengths back in third.
'I'm a bit surprised as I thought the other fellow (Mr Babbage) would be a bit sharper. They will both be aimed at staying hurdles, and Homer Wells loves that ground,' said trainer Willie Mullins.
Tell Me See, trained and ridden by Holycross-based John Burke, headed the front-running Count Rossini after the last in a stamina-sapping three miles handicap chase to score by two and a half lengths.
Alan Magee
