Proactif puts Triumph disappointment behind him

Proactif bounced back from Cheltenham Festival disappointment with a battling success in the O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Impressive over the course and distance on his Irish debut, the Willie Mullins-trained four-year-old finished down the field as the 7-2 favourite for last month’s Triumph Hurdle, but he was a heavily supported 5-4 shot to reward those who kept the faith back on home soil.

Proactif took over the lead from stablemate Kai Lung three flights from home and while he was strongly pressed by another Closutton inmate in Macho Man after the last, he dug deep for Mark Walsh to prevail by a neck, with Majolique rounding off a Mullins one-two-three.

“It was a tough performance. Mark said he let himself down today on the ground, there was a nice dig in it. He didn’t let himself down at all the last day,” Mullins said of the winner.

“It’s nice to have one like him. The first three will all make their name, I think, in the next few years.

“Proactif is a fine big, horse that can go jumping fences, the same with the second horse. I could see Majolique staying over hurdles. Things didn’t go right for her but she’s a fair mare too.”

When asked if the winner could turn out again at Punchestown, the champion trainer added: “I’d imagine so, he’ll have a good long rest for the summer so we’ll keep him working now until Punchestown.

“There is plenty of time between now and Punchestown, it will be the last race of the season so if they recover well from here they’ll go there.”

A return to the smaller obstacles and the application of cheek pieces saw Slade Steel get his career back on track in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge had failed to get his head in front since winning the 2024 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and has proved frustrating to follow over fences, finishing second on four of his six attempts and struggling on his return to Prestbury Park last month.

He showed his true colours in this Grade Two contest, however, travelling strongly in the the first time headgear and finding plenty after hitting the front to prevail by a length and three-quarters as a 6-1 shot in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe.

De Bromhead said: “We’re really happy with that, I’m delighted for the horse. He was a bit unlucky at Punchestown at Christmas to get brought down and he just didn’t seem to love chasing so we’d said we’d pop back to hurdling.

“I would guess he’ll stay hurdling now – he’s made a pretty strong case for it. He travelled so well, he probably idled a little bit when he hit the front but he was brilliant.

“I’m slightly kicking myself that we didn’t try it sooner (hurdling) but it’s brilliant to see him back and hopefully there is loads of fun ahead with him.”

Fresh from his breaking his Irish duck at Cork on Sunday, Harry Cobden rode a first winner in Ireland for his new boss JP McManus in the Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle, with 11-2 joint-favourite Fierce Handay recording an emphatic victory.

Cobden said: “That was lovely, he travelled well and did it nicely. He’s a proper horse and I’m delighted to get another one.

“The Irish people have been nothing but lovely and everyone associated with the tracks I’ve been to have been absolutely brilliant, so I can’t thank them enough for that.”