Paul Carberry guides Apache Stronghold home at Navan

The old "form is temporary, class is permanent" line was being flung around with a vengeance after Paul Carberry secured a valuable Grade Two triumph at Navan yesterday with Apache Stronghold.

Just four days after the veteran rider returned to action after a near-seven month injury layoff, Carberry secured the fourth win of his latest comeback and in doing so the supreme stylist never looked like he was away.

Flanked by the champion jockeys Tony McCoy and Davy Russell at the business end of the Monksfield Novice Hurdle, Carberry was as cool as ever, perched high in the saddle while everyone else was flat out, and even a last-flight mistake couldn't stop Apache Stronghold from securing a three length win that appeared as if it could be much more.

"You don't get too many as easy as that," grinned the 39-year-old star. "He did it well, picked up straight away, and he could be anything."

Riding a double
Despite riding a double on his comeback at Fairyhouse on Wednesday, and picking up another on Ange Balafre at Gowran on Saturday, riding a horse with Apache Stronghold's potential is another level again, as some bookmakers confirmed by introducing him at 14/1 for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

"It's great for Paul to get his confidence back so quick with a winner like that. It helps him because sometimes when you're coming back, things can go wrong. And he's not 100 per cent yet – but he always makes it look easy!" said Apache Stronghold's trainer Noel Meade.

“I suppose the Grade One back here (Navan Hurdle) is the obvious race for him. I thought coming here today he might win but I didn’t think he’d win like that. At least we have one to take on Willie (Mullins) with now,” Meade joked.

It says something that in terms of quantity, a treble yesterday represented something of a run-of-the-mill day at the office for the Willie Mullins team. But in terms of quality, both Moyle Park and Ballycasey could prove hugely significant winners in terms of the overall season.

Ballycasey made his fencing debut over a trip short of his best and those who took the odds-on would have had a worry four out when Ruby Walsh was niggling. But the grey was always in control over the last two and is likely to be seen next over Christmas at either Leopardstown or possibly the Grade Two at Limerick. Moyle Park also carried the Rich Ricci colours when maintaining his unbeaten record in a maiden hurdle display that saw him introduced at 14/1 for the Supreme at Cheltenham.

Quite keen
"He was quite keen in the Land Rover Bumper last season but he settled great today and the further he went the better he jumped," said an impressed Ruby Walsh. "He's not short of speed but I wouldn't say he's short of stamina either."

The Mullins hat-trick was brought up in the Listed bumper by the topweight Shesafoxylady but if the Mullins novice winners were all about the future, then Cootamundra enjoyed his day-of-days in the €100,000 Troytown Chase, as did rider Robbie Moran and trainer John Berry.

The 25/1 outsider has flattered to deceive in the past but Moran was coolness itself and pounced at the last to such effect that Cootamundra had half a length in hand of Mad Brian at the line. “He always travels well but doesn’t find much and that’s his first win over fences. But Robbie was good and everything went to plan,” said Berry. “It’s great today, but you know horses, it could be a different story tomorrow!”