FREEWHEELIN Dylan seems to reserve his best form for this venue, and the Sheila Mangan-owned gelding put up a career best effort to take the Kilsaran Handicap Chase in great style. The 8/1 chance jumped his way to the front three out, and stayed on strongly in the straight under Kevin Sexton to beat Kilkishen by an easy five and a half lengths, with last year’s winner Full Cry weakening in the closing stages to finish a further half a length away in third.

“Kevin said he gained lengths at his fences. He was just chinned in this race last year and he won here before. He travels, he jumps and he stays well,” said trainer Dermot McLoughlin before adding, “Once the ground doesn’t go bottomless we’ll keep tipping away with him.”

The Askeaton-based No More After Hours Syndicate were out in force to see Ellipsism appreciate a step up to three miles in the Devitts And Doheny & Nesbitt Handicap Hurdle. The Joseph O’Brien-trained four-year-old was driven to the front after the penultimate flight, and kept up to his work by Hugh Morgan to beat Monsieur Bagot by three and a half lengths.

Morgan said of the easy-to-back 8/1 chance: “The step up in trip seemed to help him. He jumped and travelled great, and ground it out well. That’s my second winner for Joseph. I ride out for him on Friday and Sunday’s when I’m not working for Henry (de Bromhead).”

Ellipsism and Hugh Morgan jump the last to win the Devitt Doheny amd Nesbitt Handicap Hurdle \ Healy Racing

Walsh shows promise

Eoin Walsh looks another young rider worth keeping an eye on for the future after partnering his third winner as 6/4 favourite Cocohulababy got on top in the closing stages to beat Ya Boy Ya by two and three-quarter lengths in the two-mile Pat Doyle Memorial Maiden Hurdle.

“I’d say she wants two and a half,” said trainer Noel Meade before adding, “She looked good as a two-year-old but then we had no luck with her last year. We train her out of a field now and she’s a lot happier. We could try her on the flat again but she definitely wants a trip. It’s a while since we had a winner for Liam (Queally) so that’s nice.”

Gavin Comwell is considering a trip over to the north of England for Dakota Beat after he scored at the third attempt in the bumper. The 6/4 favourite was never too far from the pace, and was driven right out by Mark O’Hare to get the better of Presenting Ana by half a length.

“They went no gallop the last day, and it was a bit of a mess of a race. He’s no star but he does stay well.

It’s possible he could go for a winners’ bumper. The owners [Mark Murray and Grant Harrison] are from the north of England, and he could go to Hexham in a couple of weeks,” said the Balrath trainer.