No errors from School Boy as Meade lands the big one at Leopardstown

Local trainers struck three times in succession at Leopardstown today with Noel Meade landing the feature Paddy Power Chase with School Boy Hours.

Meade's win completed the three-in-a-row after Gordon Elliott's Mighty Potter had won the Future Champions Novice hurdle under Jack Kennedy and Gavin Cromwell's Brides Hill took the Handicap Hurdle with Luke Dempsey on board.

The Paddy Power Chase (Grade B) almost always produces a thrilling finish and today's race was no different as Sean Flanagan produced School Boy Hours (12/1) for Meade with a perfectly-timed challenge to lead close home.

A maiden after nine previous starts over fences and making his seasonal reappearance in the €200,000 contest, the Presenting gelding moved into sixth off the home turn and stayed on well on the run-in to catch Ben Dundee (33/1).

Enjoy D’allen (28/1) stuck to his task well having come off the bridle a fair way out and he finished third with Braeside (14/1) completing the placings.

“I told Sean going out to try and be comfortable as long as you can. He gave him a super ride," said Meade.

“He travelled well the whole way and jumped well. His jumping was a bit edgy for a couple of years and it's taken him a while to get the hang of it.

“He's a very well-bred horse (half-brother to Finian's Oscar) but it's just taken him a long time and he's been a novice for three years.

“I thought he was travelling well turning in and thought we had a good chance because he stays very well. I think he'll get three-and-a-half miles. He was in super form coming here today as well,” concluded the Castletown trainer.

Elliott hailed a "perfect result" in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle with Mighty Potter edging out his stablemate Three Stripe Life to complete the one-two for the Cullentra trainer.

Mighty Potter had a narrow lead from Grangee jumping the second last with Three Stripe Life coming to challenge as well.

Arctic Warrior took a heavy tumble at the last as Mighty Potter fought off his stablemate Three Stripe Life on the run-in.

The Martaline gelding stayed on stoutly in the closing stages to record a length-and-a-half success.

"That was great and it's great for Jack as it's his first winner since coming back. It was a perfect result," said Elliott.

"I was happy the whole way until the second last but he just got wiped out there, both horses did but they both showed guts and came back. They are two nice horses for the future.

“The winner is a big chaser, if you look at him, and he's not going to be a horse until next year,” concluded Elliott.

Cromwell's Brides Hill produced a powerful front-running performance to run out an impressive winner of the €30,000 handicap hurdle.

The Dylan Thomas filly quickened away in style going to the last where she was big and bold and sprinted clear to record a seven-and-a-half length win over Surprise Package.

The 16/1 winner was brought down on her previous start at Fairyhouse but had been in fine form before that with wins at Tramore and Tipperary before a narrow defeat at Navan.

“It was a great performance. Luke (Dempsey) probably got a soft lead and dictated it, he gave her a smashing ride,” said Cromwell.

“She didn't half quicken from the back of the second last, when he sent her, and particularly when she turned in. She winged the last.

“You would have to love her attitude, she's very game the way she put her head down and galloped.”