IN a neat piece of symmetry, Barry Connell sent out his first winner as a trainer at a track where he rode his last winner a decade previously as Snake Oil bagged the Kerry Group (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

Just under two months after sending out his first runners as a trainer, Connell got off the mark with this 3/1 favourite who showed plenty on his racecourse debut in a Galway maiden hurdle two months previously.

On this occasion, Snake Oil raced on the pace for Finny Maguire from early on and he outclassed his opponents in the closing stages to prevail by seven and a half lengths.

“This was always a lucky place for me and he’s the first proper horse that I’ve run,” said Connell.

“He had a lovely run in Galway and I was sweating a little on the ground but having spoken to Val O’Connell and walked it I was happy. The plan was to go back jumping after this but maybe we will look at the winner’s bumper at Tipperary next month.”

“We have 30 in training and a lot of them are young horses, more than half the yard hasn’t run yet. Hopefully we have one or two more nice types like him,” he added.

Easy win

Three withdrawals over the course of the day left just three runners contesting the day’s feature and then the odds-on Peregrine Run came down at the first in the Kerry Group Chase which eventually yielded an easy win for John Queally’s 143-rated Djingle (100/30). Darragh O’Keeffe’s mount made all the running and came home seven and a half lengths in front of Ornua.

“He’d been off a long time prior to running at Wexford last month and he came on from that and he has form around here too. I might look at going back over hurdles with him,” reported Queally who trains the winner for the McNeill family.

In the day’s other chase, the Willie Mullins-trained Andalusa (9/4) produced a commanding display in the Cheestrings Rated Novice Chase.

The Lansdowne Partnership-owned and Paul Townend-ridden mare went to the front early on in this two-mile affair and went about the task at hand with some relish to hand out a 16-length beating to the favourite, Anything Will Do, and follow up a win at Tramore last month.

“It is a while since I’ve had as much fun on horseback,” remarked a delighted Townend. “She just jumps so well and chasing has brought about a lot of improvement in her. She hopped off the ground too.”

IT has been a fruitful few months for Telmesomethinggirl (8/11) who made it three wins from her four starts this season in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge, who carries the colours of Kenny Alexander, was given a good test by the 120-rated Darrens Hope, to whom she was giving 10lb, and this pair became embroiled in a circuit-long battle for supremacy.

The Robbie Power-ridden winner had the upper hand from the turn-in though and she defeated her tenacious rival by two and a quarter lengths.

“She did it the hard way and they got racing a long way from home but it was a nice performance from our mare. Maybe she is due a break but I’ll speak to the owner before we make plans,” reflected de Bromhead.

Not many juvenile hurdlers win three races before the end of September but Longclaw (4/7) managed just that in the Kerry Group 3-Y-O Hurdle.

A switch to hurdles has rejuvenated Gordon Elliott’s charge but a double penalty for easy wins at Roscommon and Down Royal meant that he had to dig deep for this success.

Jack Kennedy’s mount led from before the second last but wasn’t too fluent at the final flight which enabled Scholastic, who was in receipt of 17lb, to get upside.

To his credit, the N.H.J. Racing Syndicate-owned Longclaw rallied well to get the verdict by a short-head.

“There’s not much for him for a little while so he could have a break before we get him ready for some of the earlier graded juvenile hurdles,” stated Elliott.

THE much improved Trees Valley recorded her third win from her last four starts in the second division of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The Liam Burke-owned and -trained 9/2 market leader put her rivals to the sword in style under Donagh Meyler as she moved into a commanding advantage well before two out and had plenty to spare in defeating Porterhorse by four and a quarter lengths.

“It was my fault she got beaten at Ballinrobe last time as I told Donagh to make the running and there was plenty of pace and she ran with the choke out,” commented Burke.

“She has an issue with her wind which could catch her out on soft ground but she’s an improving mare and entitled to have a crack at something better. She’s from a family that seem to do well with a bit of time.”

Mark McNiff set a new personal best tally for winners in a season as Arthur’s Baby gave him his ninth triumph of the campaign in the first division of the mares’ handicap hurdle.

The Dermot Kelly-owned daughter of Oscar was 13lb higher than when winning at Cork last month but this mattered little as Philip Enright got the 3/1 home by a length and three parts.

Another trainer enjoying an excellent run is John McConnell who made it five winners in seven days with Hand In My Pocket in the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle over three miles.

The 11/8 favourite had been placed on her three starts since winning a Bellewstown bumper in July and she recorded a straightforward five-length triumph under Simon Torrens after helping to force the pace from the outset. The winner is owned by the trainer’s stalwart patron, Caroline Ahearn.

THE stewards received a report from the IHRB veterinary officer Ms. Joan Taylor regarding the condition of a horse which was brought to her attention in the stableyard car park. Evidence was heard from Ms. Taylor, IHBR security officer Mr. Frank Clune and Robert Murphy trainer.

Ms. Taylor reported that this horse had been left unattended in a trailer in the car park for some time and had begun weaving, sweating and become distressed. The Veterinary Officer ordered that the horse be unloaded, washed down and placed in an isolation stable.

Mr. Murphy stated that this horse was a companion horse for his only runner. He brought his runner into the stable yard and left the companion horse in the charge of his assistant who was helping him.

Unfortunately, his assistant left the horse unattended to go to get something to eat and the horse became upset while he was away.

After taking the trainer’s good record into account, the stewards fined Murphy €500.