A WINNER at the highest level at Aintree in 2019, Ornua (6/4) stamped his class on proceedings in the Dooley’s Fish & Chips At Tramore Racecourse Chase.

Sent straight to the front by Rachael Blackmore, the chesnut 10-year-old made all and was ridden out on the run-in to see off the effort of Snow Falcon (5/4 favourite) by a length.

Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead now has Galway firmly in mind for the Mahler gelding, as he said: “I suppose you could consider the Galway Plate but maybe the conditions chase there might suit him better.

“It’s lovely to see him stay that trip (two miles, five and a half furlongs) because we have always campaigned him over two miles to two and a half. Rachael said he saw it out really well.

“I’m delighted for his owners John Phelan and his partner Syed (Momin), they’ve had a lot of fun with him over the years.”

John Ryan also has Galway as the target for Ferdia after his win in the Register For August 14th Style Evening At tramoreraces.ie Rated Novice Hurdle.

Owned by the Bitview Partnership, the Dylan Thomas gelding was available at 7/1 in early shows for this two-mile contest, but came in for plenty of market support and went off at just 3/1 under Danny Mullins.

Dream run

Having raced mainly in fourth, he got a dream run through on the inner approaching the second last and was soon in a share of the lead.

Ridden on the run-in, he kept on best in the closing stages to see off Schone Aussicht (4/1) by two and a quarter lengths.

“I really like this horse. That trip is totally too short for him. He is a two-and-a-half to two-mile-six horse. His work at home is real classy,” Ryan enthused.

“He will go to Galway now and up that hill he will take a bit of beating.”

THE Edward O’Grady-trained Downthecellar completed a hat-trick in the opening tramoreraces.ie Handicap Chase.

The son of Arcadio began his sequence of victories at Limerick in May, before following up at Tramore last month.

Returning to the seaside venue, the Christine Plumbly-owned gelding was sent off the 11/4 favourite.

Towards the head of affairs throughout under Paul Townend, he had a good battle with She Tops The Lot from the second last, gaining the upper hand in the closing stages to prevail by half a length at the line.

“I’m delighted, he has exceeded expectations,” O’Grady divulged.

“I suppose we will have to go for something similar with him now. I thought Paul was superb and he really threw him at the last. It’s lovely to see Paul back riding so well.”

Wewillgowithplanb was another to justify favouritism in the Good Enuf To Eat Maiden Hurdle, with this well-backed Gearoid O’Loughlin trained gelding going off at 2/1 (6s in early shows).

Ridden by Ricky Doyle, the Chris Jones-owned bay made all and extended his advantage away from the last, going on to score comfortably by five and a half lengths.

“He is a bit of a handful. He was actually bought for Chris’s son Andrew to ride, but he is a little bit hot and it wouldn’t be fair to Andrew for his first ride,” O’Loughlin revealed.

“He will go out now and is only a four-year-old so he will have to be a bit better behaved when he comes back in. He handles soft ground so we will bring him back for the winter.”

Marvellous Molly win sets the champagne flowing

CHAMPAGNE was flowing in the parade ring following the success of Molly Wedger in the concluding Tramore August Festival Handicap Hurdle.

Upped 15lb for easily landing a gamble over the course and distance last month, the Dermot O’Brien-trained seven-year-old was sent off a 7/2 joint-favourite in the colours of the Kilbriens Syndicate.

Settled in third by Brian Hayes, she took closer order from three out and improved into a share of the lead before the next.

Pushed to the front on the approach to the last, she quickened up smartly on the run-in, going on to score comfortably by four and a half lengths.

“She has been training well since her win the last day,” said the Dungarvan based O’Brien, who has just the winner in training.

“From two and a half to three miles is her trip and it’s great to have the owners here today. Hopefully there will be something for her here in August at the Festival.”

Aidan Fogarty was another jubilant winning owner in attendance, as his Quirt Evans readily captured the Make A Day Trip To Tramore Maiden Hurdle.

Beaten just a short-head at Wexford on Friday, the David O’Brien-trained gelding was well-fancied to go a place better in this extended two-mile-five-furlong contest, going off the clear 4/5 favourite from 9/4 in early shows.

Advantage

In front before the second last, the son of Getaway soon established a healthy advantage and kept on well to register an easy six-length success under Sean Flanagan.

“That was good compensation for getting touched off on Friday. It was just the nod of a head and Sean said he was in front before and after the line,” O’Brien disclosed.

“He always promised to be a nice horse. He had a couple of good runs in bumpers and Sean said he loved that quick ground.”

Gendarme was another turned out quickly after running at Wexford on Friday, as he made the breakthrough over flights in the Tramore Racecourse Directors Handicap Hurdle.

Market support

Trained by Cathal Byrnes, the six-year-old came in for plenty of market support at Wexford and was again well-backed (11s early to a starting price of 4/1) for this two-mile heat.

Switched to the outer to challenge before the second last, the three-time flat victor was ridden to the front from the final flight and kept on well to score by two and a quarter lengths in the colours of the Golden Circle Group Syndicate.

The front-running Attitash was sent off the 2/5 favourite but he could only manage third, fading once headed from the last.

“He enjoyed the smoother ground here and maybe he didn’t like the hurdles at Wexford,” Brouder stated.

“He jumped unreal today and travelled like a buck. He done everything right and is a grand little horse.”