ON his second start for Gordon Elliott, Down Around made all to take the featured Burleigh Accountancy Handicap Hurdle over three miles, two furlongs at a well-attended Ballinrobe.

The 7/2 chance, owned by the GVD Syndicate and Robert Dolly, made all in a very steadily-run affair and was driven out to hold Killowen House by half a length.

“The plan was to sit mid-division and creep away, but when the flag dropped, no-one wanted to go on,” reported jockey Sam Ewing. “I got it handy for the first two circuits and he only needed to race from the back of the third-last. He ran well for a long way on his first run for Gordon at Kilbeggan. He loves jumping, so he might do okay over fences as well.”

Fortunate

Elliott was completing a double after the victory of Be My Fortune (14/1) in the Bank Of Ireland Brendan Maloney Memorial Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles.

The five-year-old, who had shown promise in point-to-points for Rob James, was left third at the last when the Willie Mullins-trained leader How’s Ellie fell and brought down her stablemate Boo Radley. From there, the Virginia Considine-owned gelding stayed on well to collar Crystal Mariner in the closing stages and won by three and a half lengths.

“I was nearly brought down at the first and ended up in no man’s land,” said rider Jack Kennedy.

“He took a while to warm into his jumping and was going as hard as he could. When the two horses went, he was just getting into gear and his jump at the last was actually his best one.”

THIRD on his first run over flights, Nicky Larson (4/1) was a ready winner of the C.J. Sheeran Ltd 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles.

The Galiway gelding, trained for the EFP Partnership by Paul Nolan, led after the last to beat Minella Buoy by five and a half lengths.

“James and Paul (Nolan) were adamant that he had come forward from Limerick,” said rider Sean Flanagan.

“These juveniles can be messy if they don’t go much pace, but he had the experience and jumped well. He loved the ground, but his wind seems good enough and he’ll handle ‘summer soft’ too.

“He jumped roadways out there as well, so still has a bit to learn.”

Mayo celebrations roll on

Carrying the green and red colours of Claremorris-based Damien Conway (Alberta Capital Ltd), Walkingmayotomilan (17/2) got a good cheer when landing the Bay Leaf Restaurant Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles, six furlongs.

Shane Markey’s mount came from off the pace and led on the run-in to beat market leader Keep Em Quite by a length and three-quarters.

“She likes good ground and was disappointing on soft ground during the winter, but ran well after a break in Galway,” said trainer Ross O’Sullivan.

“She just gave a little gurgle in Galway, so the tongue-tie helped here.

“Between the mares’ allowance and Shane’s claim, she was getting 14lb from some of them.

“I’m delighted for Shane, he works hard and that’s his fourth winner. She’s a fine big mare and will jump a fence.”

Local success

There was more local success in the handicap hurdle over an extended two miles, six furlongs when Nothing Hectic swooped late under Phillip Enright to beat Poetic Focus by half a length.

Owned by Ballinrobe businessman and race sponsor Tim Kelly, the 14/1 chance is trained by Hilary McLoughlin, who had gone close with another Kelly-owned runner earlier on the card.

“The instructions were to ride her as I found her, so I just dropped in and crept away and it worked out well,” said Enright.

“Hilary has her horses in great form and was unlucky not to have a double tonight. And her partner Martin Ferris (leading up), I trucked the country with him and it’s great to ride a winner for him.”

DAN King rode his first winner since his Galway Hurdle triumph on Putapoundinthejar when Koeur A Prendre (10/3) took the Cummins Homevalue Hardware Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles.

It was a not dissimilar ride from the rising star, too, as he weaved his way through the pack on the strong-travelling six-year-old to beat Fremantle Doctor by a length.

“He’s had two competitive runs since he got his mark, and I think he’s a nice horse in the making,” said Mark Molloy who trains the Estejo gelding for the Koeur A Prendre Partnership.

“He has always shown pace, so I wasn’t concerned about dropping back in trip. He jumps a fence very well, so hopefully we’ll have a bit of fun with him along the way.”

Bouncing back

Runner-up at Cork in April, Euro Maker (9/1) bounced back from a disappointing run at Wexford to win the Broderick’s Electric Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles.

Trained by Adrian Murray for owner/breeder Michael Dervan, the five-year-old led from halfway and battled on well in the straight to hold Cool Summer by half a length.

“He was badly impeded by a loose horse the last day and Adrian was confident that he’d come forward in the meantime,” said jockey Eoghan Finegan.

“I decided to let him use his jumping down the back and stretch them. That’s 12 winners this season, which is my best total so far, and my agent Garry Cribbin is doing a great job.”