Report from Leopardstown by Brian O'Connor: Mariah Rollins swept back into the Cheltenham picture with a dramatic success in yesterday's Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown
However, the complexion of the Grade One St Stephen's Day feature changed throughout and ultimately seems to have raised as many questions as it answered.
Like-A-Butterfly, the 11 to 10 favourite, looked to be beaten almost at half way and the JP McManus-owned mare was eventually pulled up by Conor O'Dwyer before the second last.
"Never going, never happening," was O'Dwyer's report but a post-race veterinary examination found nothing and left trainer Christy Roche worried.
"I'm mystified," he said. "There must be something wrong. It's the first time she's run a bad race." Roche's mood was no doubt influenced by Martinstown returning a "clinically abnormal" verdict after disappointing in the first.
The other market leader, Newmill, was finished by the second last after running too free in front and when Sir Oj looked to have the race wrapped up he gave his rider Niall Madden little chance of staying on board with a last-fence mistake.
What can't be under-estimated, however, is the resolution Mariah Rollins showed to hold off the 40 to 1 outsider Steel Band by four lengths with Ned Kelly running a promising race back in third. "She proved today she is tough. She wouldn't have liked that ground at all and John (Cullen) was at her from a long way out. But she kept at it," said her trainer Pat Fahy.
Mariah Rollins won a Grade Two hurdle at this meeting last year before ultimately disappointing at the Cheltenham Festival. This time Fahy plans to things differently on the back of a first Grade One success.
"She was at her peak at this time last year, but now the aim is to have her peak at Cheltenham. We will probably go straight for the festival but she will get an entry for the Irish Arkle," he said.
If Sir Oj was a downer for the Noel Meade team, it was the only one on a St Stephen's Day to remember for the champion trainer.
Just minutes before Harchibald and Paul Carberry secured their dramatic Kempton victory, Arch Rebel made an admirable jumping debut in the Grade Two Juvenile Hurdle.
The flat horse showed real class to keep going off a very fast pace and beat the experienced Don't Be Bitin by five lengths.
It was enough for some general 16 to 1 quotes to emerge for the Triumph Hurdle and the preferred route looks to be that Cheltenham race, via the Cashmans Hurdle in February.
"We only decided recently to go hurdling so I was a little worried he would get tired, especially on that ground but he was good," said Meade who later won the bumper with the outsider of his two representatives, Corrigeenroe.
Despite running green, and finishing on the stands rail, the winner was clear of the field, including the favourite Celtic Sammy.
The Christmas festival started with The Railway Man making all to score for Arthur Moore and Cathal Ryan in the first maiden hurdle. It seemed that only confirmed plans for the jumping newcomer Queen Astrid in the second.
Dermot Weld's smart flat mare also made all under jockey Gary Hutchinson to win by six lengths and earn the forecast from her trainer that she "could be very good over two and a half miles".
After a series of reverses with Like-A-Butterfly and Urban in the Juvenile Hurdle, it was left to The Boys In Green to fly the McManus colours with a narrow defeat of Alphazar in the handicap chase.
Mark Walsh nursed the Roche-trained runner to a short-head success after which McManus quipped: "Little fish are sweet!"
The day's most flamboyant celebrations were performed by Oliver Brady whose Baron De Feypo won the handicap hurdle. The Pierse Hurdle back at Leopardstown next month is the the winner's next target.
