A quality field of steeplechasers lined up for the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse on Sunday and Realt Dubh (IRE) made it three Grade 1 wins this season with a wide margin success under Paul Carberry. His task was made considerably easier with the second last fence fall of favourite Noble Prince but it was still a great performance to beat Loosen My Load (IRE) by eleven lengths. The son of Beneficial won a point to point as a 4yo and has developed into a very smart chaser.

The classy Voler La Vedette (IRE) landed her seventh stakes race and her tenth in all with a gutsy display in the Grade 2 Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Monday. Owned and bred by Margaret Brophy the daughter of Kings Theatre has been covered by Presenting and is one of the best mares to retire to the breeding paddocks in recent years. She has a pedigree to match her race record being a half sister to Hennessy, from the family of the high class Raise Your Heart and Bolino Star.

Other fillies to gain important ‘black type’ success over the weekend include Knockfierna (IRE) and Coscorrig (IRE). Knockfierna (by Flemensfirth) is progressive and tough and she battled well to win the Grade 2 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle on Sunday for trainer Charles Byrnes and owner breeder Karina Healy. Coscorrig (by Pistolet Bleu) appreciated the drying conditions to win the Listed John Fowler Memorial Mares Chase for trainer Dessie Hughes. She was bred by Michael O’Donoghue and is a classy mare who travels strongly and jumps boldly. Coscorrig was sold by her breeder for €3,100 as a foal in Tattersalls Ireland’s November NH Sale.