DES McDonogh rolled back the years in the RYBO Handicap Hurdle as the good prize that has long threatened to come the way of the trainer’s Hearts Are Trumps finally arrived in the €80,000 feature on the opening day of the Easter Festival.

A good third in this race two years ago and second in this season’s Galway Hurdle, the J.P. McManus-owned eight-year-old lined up with solid credentials in top level handicaps.

He hadn’t been at his best lately but a two-month break from competitive action and a switch to decent ground enabled him to secure a prize that his trainer had previously landed in the 70s with Monksfield and, more recently, Herbert United.

As last the last flight loomed it seemed as though victory was set to go to another McManus-owned runner in Magic Tricks but he wasn’t at his most fluent there.

Meanwhile, Jody McGarvey conjured a quicker jump from the closing Hearts Are Trumps and the 12/1 chance made his greater experience count as he finished out strongly to score by half a length with the mare Ruaille Buaille running a fine race to secure third.

“He’s a smashing horse and deserved that. He jumped great and he’d like the ground even better than it was there although the ground made a big difference to him today,” said a delighted McDonogh who will aim his charge towards another crack at the Galway Hurdle.

Party for Foster

Although she was out of luck with Magic Tricks, Sneezy Foster did pick up the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race with the talented Party Central (6/4). This Noel and Valerie Moran-owned daughter of Yeats endured a last gasp defeat in the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival but made no mistake this time.

Jamie Codd engineered a gap to send his mount to the front with around a quarter of a mile to run and Party Central quickly went clear before holding on well to defeat the staying on Mollys Glory by a length and a quarter.

“She’s a lovely mare who really enjoyed the better ground and it’s great for Noel and Valerie who have some lovely young horses at Cullentra. She might well have done enough for the season and she’ll be exciting over hurdles next autumn,” reported the trainer.

Gavin Cromwell’s Letsbeclearaboutit achieved the rare feat of winning three bumpers in a season in the Jetaway.ie (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race. A runner-up to Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit on his last two starts, this Aylmer Stud-owned gelding was returned at 4/7, with Joey Dunne in the saddle. He had to work harder than his odds suggested but the front runner stuck to his task resolutely to defeat the persistent Harry Alonzo (whose jockey Pat Taaffe picked up a two-day whip ban) by a length and a half.

Another double for Willie as Elimay toughs it out

A GOOD day for Willie Mullins yielded a couple of good pots and the champion trainer’s haul was headed by Lady Breffni in the €50,000 INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle over three miles.

Danny Mullins timed things to perfection on this Mark Dobbin-owned mare as Lady Breffni had most of the field to pass entering the straight in what looked quite a steadily-run affair. Lady Breffni picked up in great style when she was asked though and cut down one rival after another before landing running after the last to nail Crosshill late on and succeed by half a length.

This seven-year-old daughter of Yeats is the latest big race winner from the Leopardstown mares’ handicap hurdle won by Heaven Help Us two months ago, a race which has emerged as one of the hottest contests of the entire season.

“I think the ground was a big help to her. I’m very happy for her owner and Danny gave her a great ride,” reflected Mullins. “Danny found himself a little further out than he wanted and he kept it all for one long run down the outside which was fantastic.”

Elimay toughs it out

Mullins was also successful with Elimay who led home a J.P. McManus one-two in the BoyleSports-sponsored listed mares chase. Just over two weeks on from her brave second in the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham, the 8/15 favourite produced a gritty effort to carry the day despite possibly not being at her best.

Mark Walsh’s mount didn’t look entirely happy at times but she dug in well to hold every chance as the runners faced up to the last three fences and she moved to the front two out. She then faced a strong challenge from the 50/1 chance Demi Plie but she contained that one’s effort by a length and a quarter with the Kim Muir heroine Mount Ida finishing well to lie the same distance away in third.

“She might been feeling the effects of Cheltenham but she got the job done. We could have a look at Punchestown but I think she’s probably done enough for the season. On this ground she probably wants three miles,” observed Mullins.

Also on the card, the Sean Doyle-trained and Roger Brookhouse-owned Solomn Grundy (9/4) followed up his Tetratema Cup triumph in the Frank & Teresa O’Reilly Memorial Hunters Chase.

The complexion of this race changed markedly in the straight as On The Sod, who had helped force a good pace in company with Stand Up And Fight, crashed out with three to jump. Stand Up And Fight was soon starting to labour as his exertions took their toll and he was running on empty as he cleared the last.

It was only late in the day that the Jamie Scallan-ridden Solomn Grundy got up but he did so in the last 50 yards to carry the day by a neck. A crack at the Champion Hunter Chase at Punchestown is a possibility for the winner.

A BREAK of over two months and a switch to better ground made all the difference to Noel Meade’s Ificudiwud (14/1) in the McCauley Ladies National Handicap Chase.

This Gigginstown House Stud-owned eight-year-old was sent to the front by Liz Lalor some way from home and produced a game display as he responded well to pressure from the turn-in and after the last, he dug in to see off the strong travelling Young Dev by a length and a half.

“It was a close call as I said to Eddie O’Leary at 9.50am that I couldn’t get anyone to ride him and we’d be better not run him. Suddenly it dawned on me to try Liz, who had ridden in a few bumpers for me and she rang back at 9.57am to say she could ride,” reported Meade. “He was fresh and he jumped great for her. He’s had an easy time because the ground was heavy and it worked out well.”

The meeting began with a deserved change of luck for Salt Wind (9/4), trained by Michael Kennedy and ridden by his brother Paddy, as he got his turn in the Boomerang.ie Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles.

This Karen O’Driscoll-owned son of Getaway had run a succession of good races in defeat in bumpers and maiden hurdles this season and this looked his easiest assignment to date. He led early in the straight en route to a four-and-a-half length success over Part Time Farmer.

“The better ground helped him. We’ll speak to his owner, Karen, about whether he runs again. Fair play to her as she decided to hold on to him after he won his point,” commented the trainer.