ECO Pete sealed a fine treble for John McConnell in Downpatrick when racing away from odds-on-favourite Quantum Realm in the Molson Coors Beverage Company Flat Race.
The four-year-old gelding ran on strongly in the final furlong for jockey Alex Harvey as odds-on favourite Quantum Realm under Jamie Codd, was unable to find any more in pursuit.
After the 5/1 shot came in by eight and a half lengths, McConnell said: “I quite like Leading Light horses – they seem to a bit immature mentally but they are tough horses. He was good there today. He stayed well and he was fit. He thrives on his training even though he is not a very big horse.
“I don’t know what we will do with him, we might put him away for the year and bring him back in the spring to go hurdling with him.
“A great bunch of lads (Better Days Syndicate) who were very patient with him and I’m delighted for them. They are from Ashbourne, Ratoath direction and north Co Dublin.”
On jockey Harvey, he added: “This is his first racecourse win, he has won a point-to-point. He is a very good rider; he gave two horses good spins for me in fourth and sixth in bumpers at Galway. He has just done his leaving cert and he is (jockey) Ben Harvey’s brother.”
Winning run
McConnell’s winning run started with Thomas Healy’s Ally Cay (13/2) in the opening Congratulating Downpatrick’s Daniel McMenamin Mares Maiden Hurdle.
This was her second run over flights after a spell on the flat since finishing third in a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan in September.
It was a similar story in this race as she powered up the hill for Simon Torrens to put a toiling favourite Molly Glory away by eight and a half lengths.
McConnell said: “She had been great on the flat but she has been a little bit disappointing this year, I’ve changed her routine a little bit and I train her outside now, she is probably only getting fit now by the look of it.
“She travels a lot better in a hurdle race so we might stick to hurdles for now, and I actually think she will jump a fence as well.”
The middle leg of the treble was the Rockview Racing Syndicate’s Mullaghmore Wave who survived a stewards’ enquiry in the Frank & Brian Fitzsimmons Memorial Mares Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles and five furlongs.
The six-year-old mare was involved in a battle with Lighthouse Rose in the final furlong before coming across and bumping that rival who raced on her inner on the rail.
The 9/2 chance won by half a length under Brian Hayes from well-backed 6/4 favourite Lighthouse Rose.
Three-day ban
The stewards deemed that Mullaghmore Wave had caused interference to Lighthouse Rose but that it didn’t improve her finishing position, so she kept the race but Hayes was given a three-day ban for careless riding.
McConnell said: “We were touch and go about running so I’m glad we did now! They didn’t have any rain really since this morning. She’s a proper quick-ground filly.
“She wants every yard of that trip; she will stay further. She is a big filly and she is probably only coming to herself.”
DOLLAR Value overcame a stumble before the fifth flight of the featured Randox Health Rated Hurdle to deliver under Darragh O’Keeffe.
The six-year-old gelding worked his way to the front before the penultimate flight and stayed on well to score by a length and a half at 14/1 for owner Peter Eglish.
Trainer Tom McCourt said afterwards: “He’s a very good horse and I think he is definitely able to win a proper decent race. He’s not totally straightforward but he has serious ability. He won his novice chase here from right off the pace. He has a bit of class.
“If he didn’t behave himself today, he was heading to the field. We will go back to the drawing board and pick something. He’s well capable of winning on the flat as well, he ran a big race when Peregrine Run ran him down close home in Leopardstown.”
Dympnas Well stormed home to land the Randox Health Handicap Hurdle over an extended two and a quarter miles for trainer Paul Nolan.
Sean O’Keeffe’s mount was fourth on the run-in but ran on well once switched to the outer. She got her head in front in the final 100 yards and went on by a length and a half at 4/1.
Michael McKenna representing the owner Padraig Donohue said: “So far she has been very, very lucky. She won in Tramore and she was unlucky the last day (in Wexford) when she got boxed in. She’s probably not a super mare but she is a very good handicapper.”
LESLIE Young’s trip from Tipperary was rewarded when Ruler Of Dubai took the Joe Rea Memorial Maiden Hurdle at 20/1.
Ryan Treacy conjured up a finish from the Dubai Destination gelding who jumped the last in third place. The pair motored up the hill to head I Don’t Get It in the final 50 yards.
They took the honours by a length and Young said: “We said we would give him a run here as I knew he would stay and he operates on the track. The lack of rain probably helped. He is owned by my brother Adrian who is holiday in Spain.”
Stout stayer
Nuttorridge justified 11/8 favouritism in the Quam Felix Sumus Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old gelding, with Phillip Enright in the plate put in a stout staying performance to pick his rivals off.
He drew four and three-quarter lengths clear for trainer Mark McNiff who said: “He will probably go to Sligo for a chase, or he might come back here. The plan before today was to go to Sligo next time out. We were keen to go chasing because he is not that fluent over his hurdles.
“The Border Busters syndicate are from around Newcastle (Co Down) and some are from literally around the corner from my yard.”