LUCID Dreams was the most notable winner on Sligo’s all-chase card which, despite inclement weather, attracted a lively crowd on student day as he impressed in the Lola Montez Beginners Chase.

The three-time hurdles winner was starting off over the larger obstacles and was sent off the clear favourite at 6/5.

Settled in second by Liam Quinlan, the bay victor took over at the head of affairs four out and soon stretched clear to come home 13 lengths in front of Mister Wilson.

“He’s a superstar and we’ve always thought the world of him,” said trainer John Ryan who owns the eight-year-old in partnership with Thomas James and Eoin Banville. “He’s a Grade 1 chaser in the making and he wants three miles. He’s entered in a Grade 3 at Tipperary on Sunday but he’ll hardly go unless it’s three runners!”

Double

Ryan was completing a quick double after the experienced Hope Des Blins galloped her rivals into the ground under Danny Mullins in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.

In driving rain, the 5/1 chance had all her rivals in trouble from the second last and was ridden out on the run-in to beat Natural Look by six lengths.

Mullins said: “Her Killarney run where she was third to Captain Conby was quite decent. When she’s going a good gallop throughout the race she tends to jump in a good rhythm.

“Her jumping was good everywhere and even when she got under the last, she was clever there and she’s learning all the time.”

Mullins completed a first and last race double when 11-year-old Shantou Sisu (4/1) was a fortuitous winner of the staying handicap chase over the best part of three and a quarter miles.

Trained in Coolrain, Co Laois, by Billy Lanigan, the winner was prominent throughout but looked booked for second spot when headed by He Fitz In over the last. The latter landed steeply, though, and came down to leave Shantou Sisu back in front and he had a 15-length advatage of Father Jed at the line.

Mullins, who has been on board for all four wins achieved by Hugh Laing’s good servant, said: “I maybe didn’t plan to be in front but I wanted to ensure a strong pace and test everyone’s jumping. I knew that was going to be an asset to me and thankfully it worked out.”

PAUL Townend travelled north-west for one ride and made the journey worthwhile when easy-to-back 5/2 joint-favourite Fighter Allen landed the winners’ of one chase.

Trained by Willie Mullins for Chris Jones, the eight-year-old made virtually all to beat fellow joint-favourite The Little Yank by six lengths.

Townend said: “He’s promised a lot and is a well-related horse but just finds winning hard. The small field suited him but we thought the same going to Tramore and he disappointed us down there.

“He can jump a bit better than he did today, there was no real fluency in it, but he got in some kind of a rhythm and started enjoying himself in front, I suppose. It was a nice opportunity for him and it’s nice to get another ‘1’ beside his name.

Clever Currency justified 15/8 favouritism under Sean Flanagan as he made all in the four-runner Frank O’Beirne Memorial Novice Handicap Chase.

Despite jumping slightly left at times, the winner found plenty when ridden away from the last and came home two and three-quarters of a length in front of Tempo Chapter Two.

Winning trainer Paul Flynn said: “He looks well handicapped over fences but he’s probably just not as good over them. If he could go left-handed somewhere, he could improve again over fences.

“Unfortunately we’re running out of ground now that he’s got the hang of it but he’s been a lucky horse for the boys (Force Fifteen Syndicate) although none of them could come down today.

“He could be sold to England where, in fairness to the horse, he’d have a better chance over fences if he was going left-handed regularly around the likes of Stratford and Newton Abbot.”

DEONS Diamond was another to make all with the four-year-old comfortably accounting for her older rivals in the Brenda Anderson Memorial Beginners Chase.

The 2/1 favourite, who carries the colours of the Erris Coast Syndicate, came home five lengths clear of Jenny Flex.

“She was getting huge allowances there,” explained winning trainer Philip Rothwell.

“She’s been brilliant, she’s won a maiden hurdle and now a beginners’ chase and we only have her around three months.

“Shane Byrne had her really well schooled and we didn’t have to do much other than get her here in one piece. We’ll probably give her a little break now and bring her back for mares’ handicaps after Christmas.”

Room To Roam, trained by John McConnell for the Rockview Racing Syndicate, recorded his first win over fences in the Leo McMorrow Memorial Handicap Chase.

Prominent throughout under Thomas Reilly, he bunny-hopped the last but was clear at the time and came home 13 lengths ahead of Agirlcalledchloe.

“He’s a lovable rogue! I rode him a few times and got some great spins out of him,” Reilly commented.

“His last couple of runs have been consistent and he probably didn’t like Downpatrick the last day. I’m in John’s every morning and he’s been good to me, he’s given me a few winners over the years and I’ll take whatever I can!”