Tranquil impresses at Cork

Smart novice hurdler Tranquil Sea looks to be going places over the larger obstacles after impressing on his fencing debut in the paddypower.com EBF Novice Chase at Cork.

Eighth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham and a winner in Grade One company at Punchestown, Edward O'Grady's charge was sent off the 7-4 favourite and obliged by four and a half lengths from the hat-trick seeking Baltiman.

O'Grady said: 'That's as much as we could have expected. I was a little concerned that he was jumping out to the right in the straight, but apart from that it all went very well.

'He has a great appetite for a fence and the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse on November 30 is the next logical step.'

The six-year-old earned quotes for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase of 10-1 from 14s with Cashmans, and 12-1 from 20s with Paddy Power. Controversy reigned when the first two placings were reversed at an inquiry following a thrilling finish to the paddypower.com Cork Grand National.

First past the post Operation Houdini was relegated to second and the race awarded to short-head runner-up Alickadoo.

The stewards found Operation Houdini, the 4-1 favourite, jumped right at the second-last and caused interference to Alickadoo (14-1), although they judged it to be accidental.

A New Story led at that stage and looked like holding on but he was overrun close home and had to settle for third.

However, the jockeys of the first two horses were punished for using their whip with excessive frequency. Stephen Gray on Alickadoo was suspended for two days while Operation Houdini's rider and Sean Flanagan got a three-day ban.

Alickadoo's trainer Tom Nagle Jr said: 'The horse made a very bad mistake four out. He was just short of room and was a bit unsighted at the fence. Then he got bumped at the second-last. He's very tough and Stephen rides him very well. The horse has had a screw in his off-fore knee since he was a six-year-old.

'He's won on all sorts of ground - firm, yielding and heavy. He'll go next for the Porterstown Chase at Fairyhouse at the end of the month over a similar trip.'

Operation Houdini will bid for compensation in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, according to his trainer Davy FitzGerald.

Lethal Weapon (evens favourite) was cut to 20-1 from 25-1 by William Hill for the Triumph Hurdle after winning the paddypowerbingo.com 3-Y-O Hurdle.

His trainer Christy Roche said after the four-and-a-half-length win: 'We are going to send him over to the Cheltenham meeting in a couple of weeks for a three-year-old hurdle. He's improved since his last run and Alan Crowe said he's a horse that will show more speed on better ground.'

Alpha Ridge (5-2 joint-favourite) took his unbeaten record this season to three with a 25-length romp over Glenquest in the Dial-A-Bet 1800 721 821 EBF Novice Hurdle.

Delighted trainer Paul Nolan said: 'It was a very good performance. He's improving all the time and he has the stamp of a chaser. He'll stay over hurdles this season and be aimed at the good long-distance races.'