THE green and gold colours dominated proceedings at Bellewstown last Saturday night with five of the eight winners on the card owned by JP McManus.

There were also trebles for trainers Gordon Elliott and Joseph O’Brien on a glorious evening on the Hill of Crockafotha.

O’Brien was responsible for three of McManus’ winners and the day kicked off with a cosy success for Tigris River in the Bellewstown Golf Course Hurdle.

Jody McGarvey sat behind the leaders on the 8/11 favourite before making ground up three from home. He hit the front over the last and went on to record a comfortable two-and-a-half length win over Noble Inn.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, suggested the Mervue Handicap Handicap at Galway could be next on the agenda.

“That was grand. Jody said he hit a flat patch up the back and was a bit worried for a bit but picked up and jumped well. The conditions of the race suited him very well.

“He’ll get a entry for the Galway Hurdle but the race on the Saturday might suit him better as he looks like he needs a bit further these days.

“He got caught a bit for speed in the Galway Hurdle last year but he might know a bit more this year.”

The same connections doubled up in the Tierney Kitchens Balbriggan Maiden Hurdle with Aeglos.

McGarvey produced the 3/1 shot to lead at the last and he asserted on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths.

“He seemed to jump okay and did it well,” said Berry. “He got a bit upset before the race but it was a nice performance.

“It probably wasn’t the strongest race, as there were a lot of them there going to the last, but he can do no more than win.We’ll tip away with him during the summer. It’s been a great night so far.”

IMPRESSIVE

O’Brien trained his third winner for McManus in the concluding McLoughlin Oil INH Flat Race when 5/4 favourite Tower Bridge ran out an impressive winner.

Tom Hamilton led two furlongs out on the High Chaparral gelding and he powered clear in the closing stages for a seven-and-a-half-length success.

“That was lovely. He travelled great the whole way, picked up easy, and did it well,” said Frank Berry.

“He seemed to like the ground and I’d say he has come on from his last run. He’s going the right way. He’ll probably go for another bumper and go jumping in the autumn.”

Gordon Elliott also saddled a trio of winners on the night and two of those were for McManus.

Steamboat Quay was a strong favourite for the second division of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle and duly landed the spoils at 13/8. Conor Brassil hit the front after two out on the Milan gelding and he stayed on strongly to post a three-length win over Ben Rumson.

“He was entitled to win it as he he’d been waiting for his chance a little bit and had been a bit unlucky a few days,” said Elliott. “It wasn’t the strongest race in the world but it’s grand he won anyway. We’ll just find something low grade again for him.”

MONKEY

Brassil was himself completing a quick double having landed the first division of the race on the Stephen Mahon-trained Dancing Duke.

The 9/4 favourite had come under pressure in the back straight but picked up well to lead at the last and was a convincing five-length winner at the line.

“He’s a monkey of a horse. The first time I schooled him he galloped through five hurdles so we went chasing with him to change his mind,” said Mahon.

“I thought he was a bit unlucky here the other night on the flat. The horse beside him unseated coming out of the stalls and that rider tried to grab my jockey. He was looking around and then the wall had built in front of him and everywhere he went he got murdered.

“I think he’s awfully well handicapped. He’s a lovely dual-purpose horse. Now that I know he can take his racing he’s the type of horse you could run Monday on the flat in Galway, Wednesday in a hurdle and Sunday in a chase.

“I said to Conor ‘there is only one thing in this race that will get him beat’. He said ‘what’ and I said ‘you’!”

Elliott recorded his second winner when Timiyan landed the featured Fast Shipping Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle.

The 7/4 favourite led two from home, under Davy Russell, and pulled away on the run-in for a two-and-a-quarter-length win.

“He did it well and we’ll try and find something small for him again. It was straightforward,” said Elliott.

Berry was delighted with the night’s work saying: “I’m never too greedy but we were hoping for one or two tonight. To get five is a bonus. You couldn’t have had a better evening here either. There is a fantastic crowd.”

TREBLE

Elliott went on to record his treble when Its All Guesswork took the Western Motors Skoda Maiden Hurdle.

Russell was again in the plate and he led after three out on the 7/4 shot. Philip Reynolds’ gelding cruised clear in the closing stages for a nine-length success.

“He’s a nice horse and I thought I would have won a race with him before now,” said Elliott.

“I’ve won more races with lesser horses. He’s been a bit disappointing and things haven’t worked out. I’d say the step up in trip suited him and I’d say he’ll win plenty of races. He might like a bit of better ground as well.”

Another in-form trainer on the mark was Jarlath Fahey who landed the Sean Rothwell Construction Handicap Hurdle with The Rite Article.

The well-backed 9/1 shot (28/1 in morning) led two from home, under James O’Sullivan, and held on in a driving finish to record a half-length win over Theydon Park.

“I was hoping that he’d improve on his last few runs. He wasn’t beaten that far and the horses have in good form lately so it rubbed off on him,” said Fahey.

“He’s nine years of age and he does his job around the yard. He’s owned by my wife Suzanne so it’s great to get another winner.

“It was a great finish and that’s the way he does it, he battles and battles. He keeps his head down and stays. He’s a loveable for that reason as he just tries and tries the whole time for you. He’s a good schoolmaster and everything at home.”

Acting Stewards

L McFerran, C P Magnier, J Collins, F Fitzsimmons & H Hynes.

Horse To Follow

THEYDON PARK (J O’Brien): was well-supported in the three-mile handicap hurdle and stayed on well to be beaten just half a length. He should be capable of landing a similar contest before long.