Report from FairyhousePaul Carberry's timing might have been good on Harchibald at Newcastle on Saturday but no comedian ever employed better timing than the mercurial former champion jockey used at Fairyhouse yesterday to win a thrilling Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle on Aitmatov.

Along with Muirhead's earlier triumph in the Bar One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, it completed a remarkable Grade One weekend treble over smaller obstacles for Carberry and the champion trainer Noel Meade.

But however good he was on the first two legs, Carberry's effort in getting Aitmatov up in the final stride to beat Sweet Kiln yesterday was one to compare with anything in his turbulently brilliant career.

As expected, Sweet Kiln, who started a 2 to 1 joint favourite with the winner, employed the same front-running tactics that provided her illustrious stable companions Limestone Lad and Solerina with three wins apiece in the winter festival centrepiece.

They were famously impossible to get past and for all bar the last second yesterday, Sweet Kiln looked to be carved from the same sort of tough granite. But for that one vital moment, Carberry was inspired.

Already hard at work on Aitmatov before the straight, Carberry somehow ground his way back into contention and then conjured a fine jump at the final flight before crucially making one last desperate attempt wide of Sweet Kiln.

"Tom (Doyle) said she was coming back at him but just on the line he was ahead," shrugged Sweet Kiln's trainer Michael Bowe, just before Carberry delivered his own typically casual summary: "I didn't want to win too far!"

It was left to Meade to expand and he heaped praise on his stable jockey. "We had a secret weapon - P Carberry!" he beamed.

"We'll have to bottle and preserve him. He just has amazing ability. He has a sense of what a horse can and can't do. Not just in a drive to the line but throughout the race. There's a brilliant sense of timing there, and he's a fantastic jockey. I'm lucky to have him."

Aitmatov is now a general 16 to 1 shot in ante-pot betting for the Champion Hurdle and could be seen next in the December Festival Hurdle at Leopardstown. Meade also indicated that Harchibald and Jazz Messenger will run in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

Muirhead, though, isn't likely to be seen over the holiday period after taking full advantage of final flight mistake by Cork All Star to maintain his unbeaten record. "He's still quite weak and immature and I think he will improve a lot. So I think I'll give him a bit of a break," said Meade who later added the maiden hurdle with Sigma Digital.

"We were a little lucky when the other horse made his mistake but it was still up for grabs."

Cork All Star, however, may run at Christmas and Jessica Harrington reported: "It was a novicey mistake but he did prove he handles that ground."

The official going was heavy after 10mms of overnight rain and it resulted in 10 horses being withdrawn due to the changed conditions. It certainly made the Drinmore Novice Chase a dour test and it was Sky's The Limit who coped best to score for Edward O'Grady and his stable jockey Andrew McNamara.

The former Coral Cup winner was too good for Be Me Leader, after both Kazal and Drunken Disorderly crashed out in the straight, and with the Easter festival just a week after Cheltenham next year, O'Grady suggested Sky's The Limit may return to Fairyhouse in March for the Power Gold Cup.

Vintage Treasure's owner, the Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, appeared to take particular pleasure in landing the opening handicap chase which was sponsored by the Fianna Fail Dunshaughlin branch.

"I hope Bertie's here for the presentation," O'Leary joked. "It'll be the only thing I've ever got off him!" The Taoiseach was not present.

Delay is 'ridiculous'

A lengthy delay in an An Bord Pleanála decision regarding planning permission for the Curragh's €100 million redevelopment has been described as "ridiculous" by the out-going Turf Club senior steward Pierse Molony, writes Brian O'Connor.

The Turf Club are anxiously awaiting a pair of decisions from the planning appeals body with a decision on an appeal against the proposed new parade ring expected today and a result of an appeal against the grandstand due for December 21st.

At Saturday night's Moyglare speech at The K-Club, Molony strongly criticised the 14-month delay since the original appeal was lodged, a hold up which means plans for construction work have been pushed well past the intended Derby 2009 finishing date.

Michael Smurfit, the guest Moyglare speaker, was also critical and said: "The delay has serious implications for the project, in particular the cost of the development."

Smurfit also warned the racing industry of the current turmoil in the financial world and added: "It could well have a significant adverse effect on the Government's income and it could mean increased scrutiny for the present large subsidies that our industry has recently enjoyed."

Nick Wachman will take over from Molony as senior steward later this month.

The former Turf Club chief executive Cahir O'Sullivan received a special award for his services to the sport at Saturday night's dinner.