COLUMN Of Fire served notice that he could have a part to play in a good race before the end of the season as he routed his rivals in the Ladbrokes-sponsored two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle.

Twelve months ago this race went to the subsequent Martin Pipe runner-up Dallas Des Pictons and this year’s winner could easily reach a similar level. Two weeks on from a fall at Fairyhouse when he looked a likely winner of a maiden hurdle, the experienced Gigginstown House Stud-owned six-year-old outclassed this opponents. The evens favourite eased clear of the field from the second last for Davy Russell and finished on the bridle to prevail by 13 lengths.

“He’s not a bad horse and had some good runs behind the likes of Longhouse Poet and Elixir D’ainay,” said Elliott. “He might be a horse that could win a nice race at some stage and he’s very laid back so I’d say three miles wouldn’t be a problem for him.”

It was a day to savour for several owner breeders and among them was Cappoquin-based trainer Robert Murphy whose Darrens Hope (11/4) upstaged the odds-on Et Dite in the Ladbrokes Mares Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles. The useful bumper mare made most of the running for Mikey Fogarty on her hurdling debut and she found plenty from the turn in to fend off the favourite by four lengths. This was a sixth win from 36 rides for Fogarty since he returned to the saddle in the autumn.

“We probably should have made more use of her in her last bumper run. She’s a decent mare and the hope would be that she could pick up blacktype at some point,” commented Murphy.

The card concluded with a victory for the promising Dreamingandhoping, who is trained by Declan Queally for owner-breeder Diarmuid Hogan, in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race.

This daughter of Shirocco was a beaten favourite at Limerick over Christmas but she bounced back to the substantial promise of her debut second to Bigbadandbeautiful in a listed bumper at Navan two months ago. The trainer’s son Declan was on board the 13/8 favourite who led with over a furlong to run en route to a determined three-quarter-length triumph over Beth Horan.

“Limerick was a disaster as she was too keen and didn’t settle. She’s going to be a very nice mare to go hurdling and chasing with down the line but we won’t rush her,” commented the winning rider.

Meanwhile, the Brian Miller-owned and bred Instant Return (15/8) was rewarded for a solid start to his jumping career in the Ladbrokes-sponsored four-year-old maiden hurdle. After reaching the frame on his first five runs over timber, Jessica Harrington’s charge made the running for Paddy Kennedy and he recorded a hard-fought neck success over Politicise.

However, the outcome of this race might have been different had the other joint favourite, Oak Park, not come down at the second last just after he had moved into a slender lead.

“He gallops and he stays and he’ll step up to two and a half miles and go handicapping now,” reflected the trainer. “I’m pleased for Brian Miller as this horse was meant to be sold as a yearling and then a breeze-up horse and he’s now come good.”

Enright’s excellent campaign continues

A MEMORABLE campaign for Philip Enright continued as the rider equalled his previous best seasonal tally of 30 winners when he teamed up with Rodger Sweeney’s Sean Says in the Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boost Handicap Hurdle. After running a thoroughly respectable third to Aspire Tower in a maiden at this track two months ago, this four-year-old produced a nice display to get the better of her elders.

She pressed on for home before two out to open up a clear lead and the 12/1 chance sustained her effort in willing style to contain Saol Iontach by three parts of a length. Sweeney trains the winner for his wife, Joan. There was quite a spread in the ages of the various contestants for this race with the winner a mere juvenile hurdler while the oldest runner was the 15-year-old De Benno who took sixth.

The promising claiming rider Conor McNamara maintained his strong run of form aboard Gavin Cromwell’s Tokyo Getaway (7/2) in the Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boosts Handicap Hurdle over three miles. This Anne Finnegan-owned mare was under strong pressure sooner than a number of her rivals but she answered her rider’s every call to lead after the last for a two-and-a-half-length victory over Nicole’s Milan.

Barry John Foley is enjoying a productive stint at home before returning to ride in America in the spring and he notched up his second success in just under a month courtesy of Key Commander (5/1) in the Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Novice Handicap Hurdle.

This still unexposed five-year-old came to the last locked in battle with Cousin Harry and when that one departed a couple of strides after the final flight Key Commander was left to finish 11 lengths clear of Rare Conor.

Eoin Doyle trains the winner for his mother Pauline and there could easily be more to come from his charge.

“We bought him from Michael Butler who works for me. He was disappointing the first day in Limerick but the ground was very sticky,” stated Doyle. “He stayed on very well the last day in a maiden at Limerick at Christmas and even though it was his first run in a handicap today we did fancy him a bit. He’s a big, scopey horse who could make a nice chaser.”