BARRY Connell saddled a brace at Ballinrobe on Tuesday evening, courtesy of Net Boy and Tannery Park. The former gave odds-on punters a bit of a scare at the final flight before landing the first division of the Sheridan Electric Maiden Hurdle.

Sean Flanagan made the running on the 4/6 favourite and his mount had to pull out plenty after blundering at the last. Kamikaz Du Plessis threw down a challenge there, but couldn’t find a way past as Net Boy dug deep to record a half-length win.

“Sean said he’s not a natural front-runner; he missed a couple of them going around there,” said Connell. “He said in a better race, in a handicap, with a bit of a lead, that wouldn’t be an issue.

“He made an awful mistake, and lost his back end. The second horse was creeping along behind him and I thought our goose was cooked, but to be fair to the horse he dug in and he ran on gamely.

“I’d imagine we’ll probably look at a Galway handicap or a novice race.”

Dual purpose

Later in the FBD Handicap Hurdle, Tannery Park came with a strong charge on the run-in to score in decisive fashion. The 9/1 shot asserted going to the line to record a three-and-three-quarter-length win over Ladiam.

Tannery Park had been fifth on his return to action at Cork and Connell said: “It was his first run for a long time. I thought turning in he was going to win, but then he blew up and then stayed on.

“He’s a fun horse, he was rated 91 there and hopefully he’ll stay in the 100 grade. He has a nice rating on the flat, I think he is 45. We’ll mix it between hurdles and the flat.”

Mimi earns a holiday

I Am Mimi is likely to have a bit more time before his next race, after making a winning return in the Portwest Handicap Hurdle.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding gave chase to Desert Haven turning for home and the 15/2 shot wore down that rival late on to secure a three-parts-of-a-length win under Keith Donoghue.

“He jumped the last well and in fairness to him when he straightened up, and I got stuck into him, he picked up well,” said the winning rider.

“He runs well fresh and I’d definitely say that’s the key to him. He’s after strengthening up for a break as well, so I’d say we’ll be in no rush back.”

PUNTERS were left scratching their heads after A Snow White Park made a winning track debut in the KPMG Hurdle. The Mags Mullins-owned and trained filly went to post a 66/1 shot in the four-year-old conditions event, but travelled smoothly to launch her challenge after the penultimate flight.

The daughter of Walk In The Park led at the last as long-time leader Solar Drive crashed out and went on to prove a length and three quarters too strong for 8/13 hotpot Last Kingdom.

Winning rider Danny Mullins said: “We thought she’d win the maiden hurdle and she’s eligible for the Red Mills, which is a lot more prize money, so we thought we’d sneak around here. Mags didn’t realise that when I’m riding, I don’t hold back if it’s there!

“We liked her going for a point-to-point and John Gleeson thought he was running a nice race the day she fell at the second last.

“It surprised me how good she was there. To beat Last Kingdom like that, on ratings it puts it as a fair performance. There is a lot to like about her and convincing Mags to hold on to her now is the next thing.”

Filly sails home

Janes Harbour (8/11 favourite) broke her duck in effortless fashion in the opening Auray Assessors Fillies’ Maiden Hurdle for four-year-olds.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained filly had been placed four times over timber but made no mistake this time, kicking on after the third last for a 10-length success in the colours of J.P. McManus.

Winning rider Mark Walsh said: “They went a proper gallop, it was proper good jumping ground, and everything went to plan.

“She had all the experience in the world, so she wasn’t winning out of turn. She hasn’t been the strongest finisher in the world, but a weaker race today was a big help to her.”

Successful reunion

In the featured John & Margaret Monroe Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, Miss Gherkin ran out a cosy winner under Tiernan Power Roche.

Maurice Sheehy’s mare was making her second outing for Eoin Griffin and the 5/2 shot quickened up smartly to lead on the run-in and record a seven-length success.

“She did it well, she improved a little bit from the last day,” said Griffin. “I’m delighted to get a win for Maurice. He was with me when I was more or less starting off and had some very well-bred mares with me years ago.

“She just came to me a couple of months back. She loves that good ground and it was pretty straightforward. She has a couple of entries at the weekend, so we’ll see what happens.”

Plenty of options for Fairbanks

ROYAL Ascot could be on the agenda for Bill Durkan’s Fairbanks after he opened his jumping account in the second division of the Sheridan Electric Maiden Hurdle.

The smart flat performer went to post an 8/15 shot on his second outing over hurdles and made most of the running, seeing off the challenge of Come On The Lads from the last for a three-and-a-half-length win.

Assistant Gary Bannon said afterwards: “There is always pressure when they are that short, we don’t have many that are that short of a price.

“There wasn’t much pace on and he’s probably just doing what he had to do. Maybe that’s why he wears blinkers on the flat. Philip (Byrnes) thinks he’s a very nice horse and he was pricking his ears from four out there.

“We might look at the Copper Horse Stakes at Ascot with him, with blinkers back on. He was sixth at the meeting last year to Crystal Black (in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes) over a mile and a half. We haven’t run him on the flat yet but we might have to get the top hat and tails on for that!”

Bright future ahead

The Willie Mullins-trained Doctor Steinberg was the shortest favourite on the card and the 1/3 shot justified those odds with an easy success in the concluding QuinnBet INH Flat Race. Patrick Mullins went on six furlongs from home on the twice-placed Doctor Dino gelding and he stretched clear in the straight to record an 11-length success.

“I think he’s a good class horse,” Patrick Mullins said afterwards. “We were disappointed to get beaten the last day, but I think we ran into a nice type.

“He could be one for a maiden hurdle in Galway. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes up into a winter horse next year. He has a nice pedigree and is by a good stallion. He’ll win plenty of races.”