The winning rider declared: “He jumped brilliant and did everything right — you couldn’t fault him.” 

Elliott said: “I’m happy with him — that was a good performance. Jack said he took a good blow going to the second last, so there should be plenty of improvement to come. He ran to a good level over hurdles, but should be a better chaser. He can go up in trip, but I think we’ll look at the Craddockstown (a Grade Two at Punchestown on November 26) for him next.” 

The Elliott double was completed when Absolute Notions, a 1-12 shot, in the absence of Joyeux Machin, earned a bloodless, seasonal debut success in the three-runner Fairyhouse Membership 2024 Hurdle.

Ridden by Danny Gilligan, the five-year-old made all and brushed aside Starman from the second last to triumph by 12 lengths.

“He would have done more going around the gallop at home,” stated Elliott, “but it was a nice opportunity and a good place to start him back. He’ll stay over hurdles the next day, anyway – he’ll get an entry in the Lismullen  in Navan (November 18) — and we’ll see where we are after that. The way he jumps hurdles, he’ll jump a fence but wouldn’t want bottomless, heavy ground over fences.” 

Absolute Notions carries the colours of Brian Acheson’s Robcour, successful again when An Tobar, winner of his only point-to-point made a winning start under rules, justifying 8-13 favouritism in the Winter Festival 2md & 3rd December Maiden Hurdle, second leg of a double for Henry de Bromhead. 

Ridden by Rachael Blackmore, An Tobar beat Champagne Admiral and St Cuthbert’s Cave convincingly. His trainer’s representative Robbie Power said: “He had a little bit of a setback last year but, because he’s such a big horse, it might have been the best thing that happened to him. It gave him time to develop and grow into himself. 

“There are lots of options open to him — he’ll get an entry in the (Grade One) Royal Bond here and the Grade Two two-and-a-half mile novice in Navan next month.” 

Tackling three miles for the first time, on his fourth start over fences, Potters Party took the Irish Stallion farms EBF Beginners Chase, staying on dourly to beat favourite and long-time leader Sainte Dona to initiate De Bromhead's double. “We were disappointed he didn’t win over hurdles but he’s been crying out for that trip," Power said. "They went a real good gallop, which suited our lad as stamina is his forte. He jumped well apart from the last and stayed going.”

Successful four times on the Flat and tried in listed company last time, the Mick Mulvany-trained Fratas made the perfect start to her hurdling career when making virtually all under Michael O’Sullivan to land the Starting Point 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle in typically gutsy fashion from Eagle Fang.

Joined and headed briefly by the runner-up at the second last, the Fracas filly found plenty when popped the question by O’Sullivan and stayed on to score by a length and a half, prompting her trainer to comment: “She’s better on better ground and we’ve known for a while that she’d be a good hurdler.” 

He added: “She’s very quick and fast over her hurdles. She’s had a hard season and is entitled to a little break. She’ll probably head to Leopardstown at Christmas and we might look at some of the spring festivals.”