THE GAME CHANGER returned to winning ways at Ballinrobe on Tuesday, bridging a gap of nearly two years between wins, in the Hollymount Nursing Home Chase.

Reunited with Davy Russell for the first time since the 2015 Galway Hurdle, Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old gelding has form with the likes of Douvan, Rock The World, Ballycasey, Our Duke, Fox Norton and Tigris River on his most recent runs prior to a runner-up effort to Ted Veale at Sligo on his latest start. The Gigginstown horse turned the tables on the reopposing Ted Veale, who finished second, and three other rivals including the 150-rated Don’t Touch It, who could only manage fourth.

The win was The Game Changer’s 11th career success and pushed his earnings past €300,000. Russell commented after the race: “It was a lovely opportunity and he took it well. He ran well the last day and he was building on that. He has been a very good servant down through the years.”

Gigginstown had earlier won the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Valgor Du Ronceray, under jockey Shane Shortall.

The son of Al Namix had been unsuccessful in 12 jumps starts following his Thurles bumper win in 2015 but on Tuesday, as the 5/4 favourite, made all for an easy seven-length win over Now Let Go.

Shortall, who reported that he has three winners left to ride out his claim, stated: “Joseph told me to keep everything straightforward on him as he has run loads of times. I jumped out and no horses bothered me and in the end he has done it easily. It was a good opportunity for him and he took it.

J.P. ON TARGET

J.P. McManus also registered a winner on the card as the Austin Leahy-trained Getoutwhenyoucan caused a 20/1 upset to win the P & D Lydon Handicap Hurdle, under jockey Mark Walsh.

The son of Beneficial was well beaten at Kilbeggan on Friday but showed much more zip on Tuesday, improving to lead at the fifth hurdle before making the rest of the running for a three-quarter-length win over Stormey. An enquiry was subsequently called into interference between the pair on the run-in, but the result was unaltered.

Getoutwhenyoucan was today gaining his sixth career win, and his first win since March 2016, and Leahy later said: “I’m glad to get it as he’s not easily placed and he kept at it well in the finish. He has ability but it was a pleasant surprise and he’ll mix it between hurdling and chasing now.”

Both Valgor Du Ronceray and Major Destination were the only winning favourites on the day and the latter was well backed into 7/4 in the Connaught Telegraph Beginners Chase, scoring for trainer Noel Meade and stable jockey Sean Flanagan.

Carrying the colours of Mrs Patricia Hunt, the dour stayer made all and held off Logical Song by a length and afterwards Flanagan stated: “He had a good enough run over fences at Killarney the last day and it got his eye in. We said we’d keep it simple today and make the running.

“He is a way better horse over a fence than he was ever going to be over hurdles and he’ll improve a little bit mentally from it as he is a backward fellow.”

BIG IMPACT

Liam Gilligan, at just 16 years of age, has made a big impact on his first few rides and recorded his second career winner in the Corrib Oil Handicap Hurdle on the Ger Lynch-trained Alaliya, in the colours of Margaret Hannigan.

Gilligan, who partnered his first winner at Sligo on August 10th and was today having just his 11th racecourse ride, produced the four-year-old daughter of flat sire Iffraaj with a well-timed challenge and the pair went past Let’s Twist Again on the run-in, for a half-length win.

Galway-based Lynch commented: “That was badly needed. Rock On Barney has been placed three times and Miss McIlroy should have won last week but it’s worth it when it comes. She’ll be entered in the four-year-old hurdle at Listowel next and if it comes up soft I’ll run her.”

Another recent Sligo winner, Kilganer Queen, also landed a second win this month, when landing the David Heneghan Memorial Handicap Hurdle for trainer Denise O’Shea and jockey Brian Hayes.

The winner carries the colours of Michael Mee and afterwards a delighted O’Shea said: “That was brilliant and to be fair to Brian Hayes he gave her an absolutely fantastic ride. He has ridden a couple of times for me and he is a very underrated jockey. She is not easy and you have to tip away with her and not every jockey can do it. To be fair to Rachael (Blackmore, winning jockey previously) and Brian, they are the winning of her.

“I said before Sligo she would go chasing but I spotted this race and said we’d lob her in! She could go chasing now though and I can’t wait to get her started.”

The concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Flat Race was won by the John Queally-trained, Jamie Codd-ridden Getaway Katie Mai, for owner Michael Daly.

The 7/1 chance scooted past her rivals in the closing stages for a three-quarter-length win over Motown Girl and afterwards Codd stated: “She had a brilliant run in her point-to-point and to be honest – you can see the size of her – she’s not big and she ran in absolutely horrendous ground in Lemonfield, when it was borderline unraceable.

“They’ll have a lot of fun with her. We didn’t go quick enough for her as she has loads of pace and was good value for that win. She’s a nice filly.”