ENDA Bolger knows a good horse when he sees one and he is predicting a bright future for the J.P. McManus-owned Ballyoisin who was an impressive winner of Cork’s Co-opsuperstores.ie Handicap Chase under Donie McInerney.

The 7lb claimer had time to check for non-existent dangers on the 6/1 chance when taking it up at the penultimate obstacle and the six-year-old was good value for his three and three-quarter length defeat of Doctor Phoenix, with the same distance back to market leader Draycott Place in third.

Bolger admitted: “I was worried about the ground (officially yielding to soft) because he’s a typical Presenting but he handled it well and that young man is riding out of his skin.

“He’s rated 150 and obviously he’s going to have to be upped in grade, but that’s his forte and Frank (Berry) will guide me in the right direction. Last season, when people were knocking his jumping over hurdles, he had a chip in his knee.’’

The McManus silks made a quick return to the number one spot half an hour later following Teacher’s Pet’s 7/1 win for the in-form father and son team of Philip and Luke Dempsey in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase.

They were spread right across the track with two fences remaining, but the Oscar mare held the call on the run to the last and flew the obstacle to hold the late rally of Eight Till Late by a length, with joint-favourites Logical Song and Bilko only third and sixth.

The winning trainer said of his six-time winner: “The conditions suited her – She’ll go for another handicap.”

Donie McInerney has struck up a good association with the Mick Winters-trained Granny Biddy who returned to winning ways for her Mayo owner Tom McNulty in the Rockmills Limestone & Tom Lynes Plant Hire Supporting The Rickie Healy Appeal Handicap Hurdle.

With the final flight being omitted, the 3/1 favourite had a long run-in to contend with but crossed the line five lengths to the good over Hollow Tree.

Winters said: “She wants soft ground and I thought the ground was on the good side for her. She’s just showing signs of starting to come into season today, just like when she won in Tramore.”

Her retired owner will be heading back to America on November 8th, but returning in February “when the ground is right for the mare’’.

Sean Flanagan was another rider to come away with a brace of winners, kicking off with a comfortable victory aboard Moyross who was always travelling in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle and could be called the winner turning for home.

Owned by Patricia Hunt from Belfast, the 7/4 chance went second two out and, shaking off the challenge of the 6/4 favourite Minella Beau at the final flight, eased his way to the front shortly afterwards to win by a facile two and a half-length margin.

Trainer Noel Meade reflected: “I bought him from Enda (Bolger) after he won his point and had a little job done on his wind after he got beaten in a bumper in Punchestown.

“Sean kind off switched him off early and he’ll probably come back here for the Grade 3 over three miles that I won last year with Rathnure Rebel and the year before with Road To Riches at the Hilly Way meeting. That will give him just over six weeks, which he’ll need.”

ENTHUSIASTIC

Winners don’t come any more local than John Joyce’s Broder who returned to an enthusiastic reception after digging deep in the closing stages of the Attheraces.ie 80-109 Handicap Hurdle to double up for Flanagan by half a length from He’s Our Man.

Doneraile handler John Joe Walsh has care of the 4/1 favourite for Joyce who owns a garden centre just a few hundred yards across from the racecourse. “He got a cracking ride from Sean who’s a top-class rider,” was the comment from the trainer. “He stays well and I’d say he’d be better on nicer ground. He’ll probably run next over two and a half miles.”

Philip Rothwell enjoyed a welcome change of luck at Walsh’s expense when saddling Be Rude Not To for a two and a quarter-length success over the favourite Glebe Girl in the Tattersalls Ireland Irish EBF Mares Auction Maiden Hurdle.

James O’Sullivan, who works six days a week for the Tinahely trainer and is a great asset to him, had the leg up on the 14/1 shot who carries the Dark Bolero colours of the Jet Back Syndicate and took advantage of a final flight error by the hot pot to collect.

Rothwell said: “They’ve been a very lucky syndicate, but it’s been three years now since we had anything any good. I had seen this mare cantering close to home and persuaded a group of friends to buy her. Next year over fences, she’ll be a better mare.”

Longford-based Paul Flynn was another trainer to make his mark through Sally Park who made it two from two in bumpers in the Crossmore Tyres Recycling (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

The 16/1 shot was given a good ride from the front by Barry Browne, who picked up a two-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency and failing to give his mount time to respond, when repelling a host of challengers.

The five-year-old kept on under pressure to see off Getoutameway and the favourite Secret Legacy by three-quarters of a length and three and a quarter lengths.

Flynn stated: “All he’s done is improve. I sold him to stay in the yard and another Longford man Tony McLynn bought my share. Tom Hollingsworth, who drives the horsebox, has the other share and he’s had horses for 25 years and never had a winner until now.

“This horse is a late starter because he had trouble with his stomach and the people who had him before said they couldn’t get weight on him. He’ll go for a hurdle race somewhere around Christmas, but chasing is going to be his game.”

Mullins banned

DAVID Mullins was banned for two days for careless riding on Getaway Katie in the first race.