Only By Night edges out Champ Kiely in Barberstown Castle thriller

Only By Night threw down an early Mares’ Chase marker when beating the boys in an exciting finish to the Barberstown Castle Chase at Naas.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained seven-year-old was getting her first open season over fences underway after a successful novice campaign last term, and started a 4-1 chance for the Grade Three under Keith Donoghue.

She faced competition from the likes of Champ Kiely, Ile Atlantique and Inthepocket among a small field of five, but the latter horse fell leaving Champ Kiely to battle the winner all the way to the line. Only By Night eventually prevailed by a short head, with Ile Atlantique a well-beaten third.

“I’m delighted, I’ve been wanting to have a horse for him (owner Brian Acheson of Robcour) for a long time and it’s a nice start. She’s a good mare,” said Cromwell.

“She is genuine but she won’t go and win by two or three (lengths). She’s brilliant to jump and we got the result anyway.

“I don’t know where we go next but ultimately the (Mrs Paddy Power) Mares’ Chase in Cheltenham is the plan. That’s a nice start.

“The first day we ran her over two miles over fences we thought it was going to be way too sharp for her, but she’s just jumped so quick that she’s been effective at two miles. Two and a half miles won’t be a problem to her.

“There is a great programme for mares in novice company but it’s just not as good for mares-only. I think the next race is the Chich Fowler race in January (John and Chich Fowler Memorial Mares Chase at Fairyhouse).”

Only By Night is now a 5-1 chance with Coral for the Mares’ Chase in March while Paddy Power offer 6-1 for the Festival contest.

Gordon Elliott’s Port Authority made a winning debut under rules to take the Cavan Developments Home Builders Supporting St Marys GAA Maiden Hurdle by a massive 17 lengths as a 100-30 chance under Jack Kennedy.

The winner of his sole point-to-point start in March, he got the job done with the minimum of fuss and could be set to venture across the Irish Sea now.

“He’s a nice horse. We thought he’d come on from today as a lot of ours are coming on from their first run,” said Elliott.

“We kept it simple and Jack said he had a blow. He’s very straightforward and I’d say he’ll stay further.

“He could be a horse that could go for the Formby Novices’ Hurdle as a few of the boys (owners) are from the UK.”

Henry de Bromhead also had a maiden winner as Fruit De Mer won his first hurdling start in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe as the 30-100 favourite, the point-to-point winner prevailed by two and three-quarter lengths.

“I’m delighted with that. He jumped well and Darragh gave him a super ride,” said de Bromhead.

“It’s what we hoped he might do, he’s a horse we like. Like any of ours, we’d hope he’d step forward for the run as well.

“He’s a nice horse, he’s raw and he’s going to keep improving. He picked up there once and then just sort of kept galloping. He’s got a bit of class and he’s a nice horse.”