THE John & Margaret Monroe Memorial (Mares) Handicap Hurdle was the feature race on the second evening of Ballinrobe’s two-day fixture and the two-mile contest went to the Danny Mullins-ridden Paul’s Dream (10/3), who drew clear in the straight to score by eight lengths from longtime leader Astelia.
Tony Mullins, who trains the daughter of Mahler for the Shoot A Hoop Syndicate, said: “I was a bit puzzled by her run at Killarney, because she detached herself before coming home well. For some reason, she seemed to sulk, but women can do that!
“She’s a good-ground filly and I’m hoping she might get into the mares’ handicap hurdle at Galway. Danny rode a winner in Fair Hill (Maryland) last night and flew home and has got himself another winner now.”
Magic win
Witches Familiar (13/8 favourite) ran out an impressive winner of the Auray Assessors (Fillies) Maiden Hurdle on her Irish debut for Willie Mullins.
In what was an eventful two-miler, Al What unshipped Donagh Meyler having attempted to refuse at the first flight, leaving Cinating in front. That filly crashed out two from home with Witches Familiar inheriting the lead and she powered clear in the straight to beat Ismahane by 12 lengths. The Rich Ricci-owned winner is a daughter of Zarak out of a half-sister to Buck’s Boum.
Townend said: “She was honest at the first, given what happened to Donagh’s horse. She enjoyed her jumping and looks fairly smart.”
Meyler was taken to hospital for x-rays on a suspected leg fracture.
WILLIE Mullins had two of the five runners in Ballinrobe’s KPMG Hurdle for four-year-olds, but both were soundly beaten as victory went to the Gordon Elliott-trained Porcupine Bank (5/1).
Sam Ewing’s mount, owned by the Little Emperor Syndicate, hit the front after rounding the home turn in the two-mile contest to score by two and a quarter lengths from Munsif.
“He’s beaten a few horses with a lot more experience and got to them all on the bridle,” said Ewing. “Two miles is perfect for him at the moment, but he settles well and will have no problem going further in time.”
Double up
Ewing doubled up when Joe Cool (10/3) claimed the second division of the Sheridan Electric Maiden Hurdle over two miles. The Lightning Spear gelding, owned and trained by Noel Meade, was making his debut over jumps, having been runner-up in two Flat maidens this year.
He hit the front after the third last and kept on well to hold market leader Marco Du Seuil by a length and three-quarters.
Ewing had stepped in to replace the injured Donagh Meyler on the winner and said: “It’s unfortunate for Donagh and hopefully he’ll be okay.
“He jumped well on the whole and is a big galloping horse with plenty of scope. He liked the ground, but he’ll go on a bit easier as well.”
Stylish Store Boy
Trained by Henry de Bromhead for the Mowog Syndicate, The Store Boy justified 6/4 favouritism in fine style in the first division of the Sheridan Electric Maiden Hurdle.
Darragh O’Keeffe produced the Blue Bresil gelding to lead going to the last and he pulled clear to record a six-and-a-half-length success over Press The Button.
“He just struggled to see out his races on testing ground, and he’s a real summer horse,” said O’Keefffe. “He jumps very well and he’s one you’d be looking forward to over fences.”
DANNY Gilligan timed things to perfection on Can Happen (9/1), as the Vadamos gelding scored on his first outing since switching yards.
Under pressure in eighth before the final flight in the two-mile Portwest Handicap Hurdle, the six-year-old stayed on well and grabbed Moylussa close home to record a length and a half success.
Winning trainer Peter Flood said: “Shane Nolan, who used to train, organised the switch to our yard because Michael Mulligan (part-owner along with Patrick G Walsh) would be local to us in Kilcock.
“I’m not saying I’ve improved him, because Mark Fahey is a great trainer, but maybe the change of scenery was a help. We said we’d try something different, so put the tongue-tie on, and maybe the better ground suited him as well.”
O’Sullivan off the mark
Alan O’Sullivan rode his first winner since turning conditional when the Tom Hegarty-owned Jisco Du Brem (11/2) ran out a cosy winner of the FBD Handicap Hurdle. The Spanish Moon gelding hit the front going to the final flight in the two miles, six furlongs contest and posted a three-length victory over Ellaat.
“It’s great to get a hurdle win on the board with this lad, he’s been a bit frustrating,” said trainer Jonathan Sweeney. “He’ll be suited by going back up to three miles. It’s great to give Alan his first winner as a professional. He’s been coming in to me for a long time.
“When Michael was at college, Alan would be in schooling the point-to-pointers and, when Michael won on them, Alan would tell him ‘I had them ready for you!’”
Thrilling finish
The QuinnBet INH Flat Race produced the finish of the day as Fiveandahalf (11/4) just clung on to repel the challenge of Power Steering. Declan Lavery got a lovely run through on the inside on the Snow Sky gelding to lead turning for home in the two-miler.
Power Steering stayed on to press the Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding and just failed by a nose at the line to peg him back. The winner, a brother to smart mare Sixandahalf, having his second start, had been fourth over hurdles on his debut.
Stable representative Feidhlim Cunningham said of the Good Mix Syndicate’s gelding: “He’d been working well and we thought he was capable of winning a bumper. He’s only a four-year-old and will hopefully keep on improving.”