Sunday 8 January 2017 16:27, UK
A review of the rest of Sunday's meeting at Naas as Noel Meade's Art Of Security won on the card.
Art Of Security mowed down long-time leader Turbojet to claim top honours in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners European Breeders Fund Maiden Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.
The winner of a Navan bumper last season, the Noel Meade-trained Art Of Security disappointing on his first two starts over obstacles, but raised his game to finish third behind the high-class Bacardys at Leopardstown over the festive period.
Turbojet, the 3-1 joint-favourite along Arvico Bleu, set out to make all the running, but his stride began to shorten on the run to the final flight.
Art Of Security was almost on terms on jumping the obstacle and picked up well on the run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths under Sean Flanagan.
Turbojet had just enough in the tank to hold onto the runner-up spot from Arvico Bleu.
Meade said: "I thought he'd win as he ran very well in Leopardstown. Sean thought the ground was a bit quick for him then and said he was flat out from the second-last.
"He won a bumper on soft ground and I think he's a reasonable horse.
"I suppose he'll go for a winner's race, but we'll see what way the handicapper rates him.
"It's so difficult at the moment because no matter what race you go for, a Grade Three or a Grade One, they are all the same and you run into the same horses.
"It's the same for any of those horses that win. The next step is a big one."
Black Zero was a 7-1 winner of the Eastcoast Seafood & Gouldings Hardware Handicap Chase for trainer Michael McDonagh and jockey Mark Enright.
Enright said: "Over two miles with the blinkers back on him today, he travelled sweetly.
"He stays well. He doesn't really quicken but he stays and was idling up the straight.
"Michael's not here. I'm sure I'll speak to him later and he'll be delighted with that.
"He's a very nice man and does well with the horses he has. It's lovely to ride a winner for him as he's been good to me lately."
Slowmotion opened her account over fences in the Rushes Supervalu & Lemongrass Restaurant European Breeders Fund Mares Beginners Chase.
Joseph O'Brien's Grade Two-winning hurdler only made it as far as the first fence on her chasing debut at Wexford in November and reverted to the smaller obstacles over Christmas when runner-up to Let's Dance at Leopardstown.
The JP McManus-owned mare was the 4-6 favourite on her return to chasing and got the better of Elusive Ivy by a length and three-quarters.
"It was nice to win a chase with her. She seemed to jump fairly well, although the loose horse wasn't a big help," said O'Brien.
"She had a tough race in Leopardstown where there went at it the whole way so we'll give her a bit of time now before we go again.
"She can go up in trip and is versatile."
Yaha Fizz struck gold in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
The 16-1 shot was two and three-quarter lengths too strong for 11-4 favourite Like A Demon.
Alan Delany, son of trainer Eamon, said: "He stayed at it well. He's a horse we liked all the time, he was just big and weak last year.
"It took a bit of time to get him to settle. We've done a lot of work with him over the last few months. He's settled well and we've took off all the headgear.
"There is a good bit more to come I think and when we do go back over fences we have a nice horse."
Meade completed a double in the concluding Tuckmill Gallery, Aria Boutique & Jingles Hat Hire (Pro/Am) Flat Race with 10-1 shot Red Jack.
He said: "He actually came out of the Derby sale, so it's quite difficult to buy a horse in June, break him and have him back that quick.
"Everything he's done he's done very easy. He's done a couple of pieces of work, but he's never really been taken off the bridle at home. He's probably a very good horse, I'd say."
He added: "I'll have to talk to the owner (Meade's wife, Derville) and I might have to convince her to sell. He probably will be sold. Whether he'll run again this season or not we'll have to see.
"He's a lovely horse and didn't cost a fortune, either."
