Boylesports Tied Cottage Chase
Grade 2, Punchestown 15:10 €42,500 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
Sunday 1st February 2015

1 Hidden Cyclone 6/5F
2 Bright New Dawn 3/1
3 Twinlight 3/1
6 ran Distances: 5l, ½l, 16l
TIME 4m 7.40s (slow by 7.40s)

Hidden Cyclone cut across the board for the Queen Mother after nice Tied Cottage win

Hidden Cyclone
© Caroline Norris

Shark Hanlon's stable star filled the runner-up spot three times at Grade One level last season before falling on his final appearance of the campaign at the Punchestown Festival and also came to grief on his return at Thurles in November.

However, having chased home the reopposing Twinlight at Leopardstown over Christmas, he was the 6-5 favourite to reverse the placings with an 8lb pull at the weights in this Grade Two event and he did so with the minimum of fuss.

Dominating from the front throughout, Hidden Cyclone jumped neatly in the hands of Andrew McNamara and left his rivals trailing when kicking on from two out.

With those previous tumbles perhaps in mind, McNamara slowed his mount down heading to the final fence, but he popped over nicely and had plenty in hand as he passed the post clear of Bright New Dawn, who edged out Twinlight for second.

MansionBet cut Hidden Cyclone to 12-1 from 20-1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

Hanlon said: "We're happy for a change. We're so used to being second so it's good to come here and win.

"The better ground helped. It dried out a lot in the last couple of days as they were giving it as heavy two days ago.

"Over two miles he's good and he has plenty of cruising gears. I have to speak to the owners yet but I'd say the Queen Mother is the plan and he'll go straight to Cheltenham now.

"He jumped well today, never put a foot wrong, and I couldn't be happier. I'd say that's the best he's ever jumped.

"He also did something today which he hasn't ever done and that's settle. Andrew said going to the start he thought there was something wrong with him

"We've done a lot of work at home getting him settled and I have to thank my staff who have put in a lot of work."

Boylesports Free Wifi Tied Cottage Chase
Grade 2, €42,500 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Soft, Heavy in places