SECOND SCHEDUAL returned to something like his old self when winning yesterday's Thurles European Breeders Fund Chase. There was a time when Hugh Mc Mahon's 11 year old would have treated such opposition with disdain but, as reflected in his returned price of 5 to 1, he has not been right for some time.
Ridden intelligently by man of the moment Conor O'Dwyer, Second Schedual landed a closeup fourth of the seven runners over the fifth last fence but was, in front in a few ground devouring strides and there he stayed, seemingly happy to be back in form, to hold the rallying Graham Bradley partnered favourite, The Crazy Bishop, by thick quarters of a length.
"The ground was bad on the inside so I tacked, over for the best going," said O Dwyer.
The first winner for Hugh McMahon's 28 year old daughter, Annett, since she took up training a few seasons ago, Second Schedual has not won for two years - his last success gained in a three mile chase at Sandown when trained by David Nicholson.
However, he went close to winning the Mackeson Gold Cup in November 1994. Arthur Moore trained him to win Cheltenham's Cathcart Cup three years ago when he beat General Idea in a photo finish. He then returned to his owner who saddled him to win two hurdle races at the 1993 Listowel meeting.
All going well Second Schedual will return to Cheltenham next month for either the Ritz Club Handicap Chase or the Kim Muir Handicap Chase for amateur riders. "Hopefully he is back to his best," said the trainer. "He got a virus and was very sick after he ran in the King George VI Chase 14 months ago," she added.
The Executive Perk Hunters' Chase was set for a grandstand finish between two good hunters as the recent Clonmel winner Stay In Touch and Dixon Warner rose as one to the last fence. However, the latter fell leaving Stay, In Touch who was always jumping that bit better to win by 13 lengths.
Trained by John Costello, and ridden by his brother, Dermot Stay In Touch will, not be sent to Cheltenham but will probably run at Wexford in three weeks time. Dixon Warner's trainer Enda Bolger, has his sights set on Cheltenham's Foxhunters for leading hunter chaser Elegant Lord.
Only half of the 14 starters for the Tattersalls Ireland Mares Novice Chase completed the course with the eventual winner Flawless Finish all but ditching rider Charlie Swan at the last when screwing sharply on landing and leaving her partner without irons.
The favourite Love The Lord (Tommy Treacy) was disputing the lead with Le Hachette (Stan Murphy) when the duo took the wrong side of a doll after passing the stands with a circuit to run and taking the wrong course. Flawless Finish was left in front and had established a commanding lead before entering the home straight. However, she was not helped by a loose horse on facing up to the last.
Later, Treacy and Murphy were suspended for seven days and both were ordered to forfeit their riding fees.
The Pat Flynn trained Leggagh Lady gained her second win over this track when jumping the last comfortably in front and forging clear to score by six lengths in the Littleton Handicap Hurdle.
