JOCKEY Paul Carberry, who made a successful return from injury at Listowel last Sunday, is a master of his craft but 18-year-old Jonathan Burke is proving to be equally fearless and notched up the second double of his professional career aboard The Plan Man and Lord Ben at the same fixture.

Burke has an excellent strike rate for trainer Henry de Bromhead and gave the John & Joan Partnership’s Lord Ben a dashing all-the-way drive to land the featured Kerry Group Handicap Chase. The 4/1 shot, who was collecting for the sixth time, was clear from two out and triumphed by an easy seven and a half lengths from the favourite Back Off Mate.

De Bromhead commented: “He ran a blinder in the Galway Plate but sadly just didn’t get home over that trip. He’s an improving horse and just loves this place. Two and a half miles is ideal for him and he’s getting closer to those conditions races.”

Five pound claimer Burke is on a roll and struck earlier with The Plan Man in the Kerrymaid Hurdle. Gigginstown’s 3/1 chance gained the upper hand over Shamar halfway up the run-in for a one and threequarters of a length success. Market leader Queen Alphabet was in front for a long way but had to settle for third place.

“He’s a quick horse and quickened after three out and up the straight,” said Burke. “He missed the last two but was always going to win. He loves the real good ground and is just a smart horse.”

It was Carberry’s turn to shine in the Cheestrings Beginners Chase and the Meathman, who broke his collarbone at Killarney on July 15th, had a willing partner in Thomond who turned in an exhibition of jumping from the front to break his duck over fences at the eighth attempt.

Noel Meade trains the 15/8 favourite for Patricia Hunt, who runs a drinks business with her husband Paul in Belfast. He agreed: “Paul was brilliant and I think he and the horse enjoyed each other. We almost sent him to the sales but then had a change of heart.

“In fairness he jumped great for Adrian (Heskin) in Tipperary and worked very well the other day. He’s been promising to win one and it’s great for Paul after being out for so long. I told him to take a bit longer but you can’t stop a Carberry! He likes fast ground, stays well and I suppose he’ll run in a handicap next.”

Bosman Rule, from the Willie Mullins yard, came out on top under Paul Townend in the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle, despite some sloppy jumping. Sent off the 1/3 favourite, the Gamut gelding was in the first two throughout and took the bull by the horns racing away from the third last flight to run out a bloodless 14 lengths winner from Little Vinnie in the colours of his Longford owner Philip Reynolds.

The hot pot needs to brush up his jumping technique but this was only his second start over timber and he took time to win his bumper. Townend remarked: “He was scratchy at one or two but will learn from it jumping-wise. It was a messy enough race and he can only improve. He loved the ground (officially good, good to firm in places).”

Stable-companion Verawal was expected to double up for the trainer and jockey in the Kerry Group 3-Y-O Hurdle but he could finished only third behind Ken Condon’s 10/1 winner Celtic Artisan who came out on top for the Eurosoaker Syndicate by a half a length margin from Credulous in the hands of Mark Enright.

Verawal was later reported to be cut on his right fore medial cannon bone when examined by the Turf Club veterinary surgeon at the request of the stewards.

Condon was on duty at the Curragh and was represented in his absence by National Hunt jockey Eddie O’Connell and his sister-in-law Eileen Ryan who reported: “Mark said he travelled very nicely through the race and when he came to win he went about his business. He was very happy with him.”

O’Connell, who has been working for the trainer for the last two years, added: “That was a bit unexpected because we thought the favourite would win but he’s an honest horse. He’ll probably go straight to the sales in Newmarket after that.”

The hooded Hell Cat Maggie, from the Edward O’Grady stable, is a progressive performer and defied a 5lb hike in the ratings to complete her hat-trick in the Low Low EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle. Sporting the silks of Kieran Cotter from Kilmacthomas, Barry Geraghty’s mount seized the initiative on the run to the final flight and sprinted away to justify 3/1 favouritism by five and a half lengths.

Her trainer said: “We were going jumping fences with her but we might just defer that. Good ground seems important to her and she just seems to go on it. She’s a very good jumper – that’s her strong suit and Barry said he couldn’t believe the lead she gave him at the second last.”

The Kerry Group Flat Race, won by the 5/2 favourite Fearachain, was an all-family affair as the six-year-old is trained by Tony Mullins for his sister Sandra McCarthy, was bred by her husband Peter and was piloted to his two and a quarter length win by their nephew David Mullins, for whom it was winner number eight in the saddle.

“He deserved that,” said his handler. “And I’d imagine he’ll go for a maiden hurdle now. I can’t see him going for a winner’s bumper but we’ll wait until there’s a proper cut in the ground before we send him over hurdles.”

Power ban: Paul Power picked up a one-day ban for failing to give Mr Picotee time to respond to the whip in the bumper at Listowel last Sunday.