One-time top class novice chaser Morning Assembly returned to action following a 641 day layoff at Fairyhouse today, finishing an admirable second to Bridgets Pet in the Book Easter Festival Tickets Online At fairyhouse.ie Rated Chase.

Seven runners contested the race but most eyes were on the Pat Fahy trained Morning Assembly, a Grade 1 winning novice hurdler and one-time conqueror of Don Cossack in their respective novice chase campaigns.

Morning Assembly today did almost everything right but in the end failed, by just a head, to concede 15 pounds to winner Bridgets Pet, under five pounds claimer Shane Shortall.

The pair had battled since the second last fence and while Bridgets Pet led throughout that stretch, Morning Assembly finished strongly to strongly press the winner to the line.

Bridgets Pet is trained by Alan Fleming and following the success winning owner Barry Connell stated “he's a horse that has had no luck and his last run was in the Kerry National where two horses fell in front of him and he had to be pulled up.

"He's still a novice and we'll see what the handicapper does but I've half a mind to go for the novice handicap at Cheltenham.

"He's not the scopiest horse and tends to get underneath his fences but he has an engine."

Morning Assembly's trainer Pat Fahy himself expressed his own delight, saying “I'm extremely happy with that. I felt coming here if he was involved over the last few fences I'd be happy but to battle back the way he did was great.

"I've never bullied him to get to this stage. We have eased him back to get where we are, and he has a number of options now including at Haydock over an extra mile, and the Bobbjo back here.

"Davy (Russell, jockey) liked him, and he should improve from that. However the ground is the key, and it probably won't last like that for much longer."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee