Fakir D’oudairies became the first Irish-trained horse since Sound Man in 1996 to win the Ascot Chase on Saturday. Joseph O’Brien’s seven-year-old wore down outsider Two For Gold in heavy ground conditions to record his third Grade 1 success for owner JP McManus.

He was ridden by Mark Walsh who, after the race, said: “He stuck his head down really well and battled all the way down to the line. Joseph does a great job with him and he is a great horse to be associated with.”

A consistent type over this intermediate trip – Saturday’s race was over two miles and five furlongs – Fakir D’oudairies strengthened the form of Allaho, who has beaten him comfortably on the last three occasions the pair have met. The Willie Mullins-trained chaser is favourite for the Ryanair Chase and will be a lot of punter’s banker at Cheltenham next month.

Fakir D’oudairies may avoid another clash with his old rival and go straight to Aintree now to defend his own title in the Melling Chase.

Meanwhile at Gowran Park, we may have seen another Champion Hurdle contender in the five-year-old Teahupoo. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding was a good winner of the Red Mills Trial Hurdle from a useful sort in Darasso and is as short as 8/1 with some bookmakers now for the Champion Hurdle where he will have to take on Honeysuckle.

Having looked a foregone conclusion for much of the season, the great mare may now be tested, given Appreciate It, last year’s runaway Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, has emerged as a player in the two-mile championship contest also.

Later on the Gowran card, which was well attended again, Melon won his first race in 785 days when proving much too strong for his rivals in the Red Mills Chase. Willie Mullins could allow him to take his chance in the Ryanair Chase following the confidence boosting victory.