ST Lawrence Gap took up the running approaching two out and stayed on well to land the evening's feature race at Tramore – the Richard Power Private Client Betting Handicap Hurdle.

The Eoin Doyle-trained 5/2 favourite, who was partnered by Brian O'Connell, beat the Ellmarie Holden-trained My Direction by two and a half lengths. It was his first run over obstacles since unseating his rider at Galway last October.

Since then, the five-year-old has won twice on the flat and he was not disgraced when ninth of 20 in the valuable Connacht Hotel (Q.R.) Handicap at Galway last month.

Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell combined forces for a short-priced double, with the first leg provided by 9/4 favourite Swingbridge in the Womens Irish Network For Racing (WINR) Race Day Beginners Chase.

The Milan-sired gelding got up at the line to catch the front-running longshot Swift (40/1), winning by a short-head.

The double was completed when Fridaynightlights (4/1) won the two-mile Waterford & Tramore Racecourse Supporters Club Rated Novice Hurdle, beating 3/1 favourite Spin A Yarn by half a length.

WINNING START

John Halley's Penneys Hun made it a winning start to life over hurdles. The four-year-old had failed to land a telling blow in three bumpers previously, but he could hardly have been more impressive on his first start over timber in the Calor Gas Maiden Hurdle.

The 9/1 chance sat second behind Skeaping under Rachael Blackmore throughout before asserting between the final two flights and ultimately pulling clear of Gordon Elliott's charge to win by seven and a half lengths.

Halley, the in-house vet at Aidan O'Brien's all-conquering Ballydoyle yard, wasn't present but Blackmore later commented: "It was a good performance from him and he did it well. He had a lovely run in a bumper the last day and he improved a lot from that today. He is a lovely horse and I'm very good friends with the Halleys so I'm delighted to ride a winner for them."

Grade 1-winning hurdler Airlie Beach was sent off at 30/100 for the two-mile Seanie Colfer Construction (Ladies) Maiden and the Willie Mullins-trained mare easily landed the spoils in the hands of Kate Harrington.

The seven-year-old daughter of Shantou is in foal to Mount Nelson and may run once more on the flat.

READ THE FULL TRAMORE REPORT IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION OF THE IRISH FIELD