Looks Like Trouble consolidated his position at the head of the chasing ranks with a brilliant front running display in the James Nicholson Champion Chase at Down Royal.
Last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was foot perfect throughout and could afford to coast home from the final fence for a facile 15 length victory.
Noel Chance's charge has definitely improved since last season and may well become the first horse since L'Escargot, almost 30 years ago, to win a second Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Dorans Pride ran as well as could be expected to finish second, but Florida Pearl, undoubtedly some way short of peak fitness, will have to improve considerably if he is to challenge for top honours this season.
A disappointed Willie Mullins said of Florida Pearl: 'He did not run up to his best, but might not have beaten the winner even if he had.' My sentiments exactly!
Former champion jockey Ruby Walsh returned from injury at the Down Royal meeting, but even his best efforts couldn't conjure up a victory and he had to wait until the juvenile hurdle at Navan on Sunday to once again visit the winner's enclosure.
The anticipated clash of our two leading novice chasers, Limestone Lad and Knife Edge, at Punchestown on Saturday failed to materialise as the latter was withdrawn before racing.
Knife Edge has been added to J.P. McManus' awesome list of jumping stars and will reappear in the Denny Gold Medal Chase at Leopardstown on St. Stephen's day.
Limestone Lad was far from impressive in the Craddockstown Novice Chase. Left clear from the third last he was lucky to survive a bad mistake at the penultimate fence, but remains unbeaten over the larger obstacles.
The Ladbroke Hurdle has a new sponsor following the announcement on Wednesday that Pierse Constructing Ltd. has stepped into the breach. The prize-money will remain unchanged at #100,000, though several other slight alterations have been made.
The race will now be run on Sunday 14th January,and a cap of 140 has been placed at the top end of the handicap. This means that hurdlers with a rating above 140 need not apply. Last January, Mantles Prince won the race from 12LB out of the handicap and without a hurdle win in the interim is ineligible for this season's renewal.
Overall, this rating change should have a positive effect on the number of runners declared and also eliminate the necessity for some runners to compete from out of the handicap.
The victory of Mr. Ventura at Thurles on Thursday caused quite a stir. He was a 25/1 chance with the bookmakers, but went unbacked on the Tote and subsequently no win dividend was declared for the race.
All win stakes with the Tote on the other 17 runners were returned amounting to a total refund of #1,400. A stooper's paradise for anyone so inclined!
The Irish Field, not noted for snappy headlines, avoided the tacky references to 'Ace Ventura' and instead hit the mark with: 'Nothing is ventured, but everybody gained'.
