Down Royal review: Apache stronghold 20/1 for RSA after Royal win

A review of the pick of the rest of Friday's action from Down Royal, where Apache Stronghold made a fine start over fences.

Apache Stronghold jumped beautifully on his way to making a winning debut over fences in the Porter & Co. Beginners Chase.

Trainer Noel Meade has never made any secret of the regard in which he holds the six-year-old and he looked destined for the top of the novice hurdling ranks after a couple of early-season victories at Punchestown and Navan last term.

Unfortunately, a mid-season injury halted his progress but he returned in the spring and his fine second behind the exciting Vautour at the Punchestown Festival showed he was back on-song.

Sent off the 3/10 favourite for his fencing debut, Apache Stronghold was soon bowling along at the head of affairs in the hands of Paul Carberry and jumped swiftly throughout.

Thunder And Roses was the only horse able to go with the market leader from a long way out, but he was eventually shaken off, with Carberry pushing his mount out hands and heels to score by three lengths.

Meade said: "I couldn't be happier, he jumped like a buck. He will improve for that, but he was fit enough for the race. Paul thinks he'll be better with a good gallop.

"He hasn't schooled on grass, he schooled on the all-weather so you never know. He does like getting goodish ground, but he should go on anything.

"The Drinmore at Fairyhouse (November 30) has to be the race but I also have Very Wood, although he may want further.

"We'll have to see about whether we can get a race into him (Apache Stronghold) before the Drinmore."

Morning Run kept her unbeaten record intact with another demolition of her rivals in the EBF Lough Construction Ltd Mares Novice Hurdle.

Willie Mullins' three-times bumper winner made a seamless transition over jumps at Tipperary and was a heavily supported 8/15 favourite stepped up to Grade Three level in Northern Ireland.

After initially tracking the pace, Ruby Walsh soon let Morning Run stride on at the head of affairs and some slick leaps down the back straight kept up the momentum.

It was clear long before the home turn that her rivals were struggling to bridge the gap and although she was a little too exuberant for her own good at the final flight, stumbling on landing, she got away with it and eased clear for an emphatic seven-and-a-half-length success.

Carrigmoorna Rock filled the runner-up spot.

Mullins said: "She's improving all the time. She's a very slick jumper and is very sharp. She was a bit novicey at the last.

"We'll keep upping her in grade. She's entitled to make the jump to Grade Two.

"We'll keep her to mares' races."

Mullins teamed up with son Patrick to land the concluding bumper as 4/5 favourite Valerian Bridge completed a hat-trick in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud.

"He has improved and improved all season. He has improved more than we thought he would," said Mullins.

"I'm not sure if he'll go for a fourth bumper. I'm not sure whether he'll handle real winter ground.

"We'll see whether he goes novice hurdling or whether we keep his novice status for next year."

Meade-trained favourite Champoleon had to make do with the runner-up spot in the Eventsec Maiden Hurdle as 5/1 shot Better Back Bob galloped to top honours.

Never Said That was a 10/1 winner of the Allianz Handicap Hurdle, while Jim Dreaper's 11/8 favourite Sizing Solution jumped and galloped his rivals into the ground in the Robinson Services Handicap Chase.