JACK Doyle sent out a winner with just his fourth runner since taking over the trainer’s licence from his father, Pat, when No Mon No Fun (18/1) stayed on late to take the West “Howya” Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe on Tuesday evening.

The Martin Cullinane-owned five-year-old got up close home under Philip Donovan in the two-mile-and-one-furlong contest to beat Sharu by half a length.

“He lost confidence after falling in his first point-to-point, and the run at Limerick the last day helped him to get it back,” said Doyle.

“Like most of ours, he has a ‘for sale’ sign! I’ll probably do much the same as my father. We’ll try and keep a few nice horses for the track, but the bread and butter is buying young horses, bringing them on and producing them, and then selling them on.

“I still have my jockey’s licence, so if I can find a nice enough horse, I’ll be ready to ride it.”

Best horse

The 4/7 favourite Bells Grove was a ready winner of the other maiden hurdle on the card, a two-mile-and-one-furlong contest sponsored by O’Hare’s. Third on his hurdling debut at Listowel, the David L’Estrange-owned gelding headed How’s Ellie on the run to the last to win by six and a half lengths.

“He was the best horse in the race, so I played it safe and took no chances,” said jockey Kieren Buckley, whose father Edward trains the five-year-old son of Capri. I think two miles is a good trip for now, but he settles lovely and two and a half should be okay too, in time.”

DANNY Mullins recorded a double which was initiated when he teamed up with his uncle Tom to win the David Heneghan Memorial Handicap Hurdle with well-backed 7/2 favourite Max Meridius. Helen Mullins’ Belardo gelding headed Bhean Saibhre at the final flight and went on to win the two-mile-and-one-furlong contest by three and three-quarter lengths.

“He was a fraction keen, but if he develops the right way, the better grade races will have a stronger pace which will suit him,” said the winning rider. There should be more in him on the flat too, and I wouldn’t mind riding him in one of those heavy-weight races around Tramore. If I tell Tom not to go there, he might go!”

Against the odds

With form figures of PPP for his previous three outings, it wasn’t the greatest surprise to see Not So Serious sent off a 50/1 chance for the first division of the Sweeney Oil Handicap Hurdle over two miles and six furlongs, but Mullins worked his magic to guide him to a first victory.

Trained by Billy Lanigan for Christopher Neville, the Kingston Hill gelding led after two out to turn over market leader Run For The Border by two and a quarter lengths.

“Billy always thought there was something there, and maybe summer ground and a bit of a trip has helped, along with the first-time cheekpieces,” said Mullins.

“These smaller trainers are very important to me at this time of year; I might struggle for rides without them.”

John Ryan enhanced his good record at the track when Eye Of A Tiger (4/1) bounced back to form under J.J. Slevin in the BoyleSports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap Hurdle over two miles and one furlong.

The daughter of Lauro, owned by the trainer himself, hit the front on the run-in to score by half a length from Eye Contact. “She’d come down a few pounds in the ratings, and J.J. gave her a cracking ride. We copped on earlier in the day that you have to go wide, the ground is over-watered on the inner,” said Ryan, who was winning the race for the third year in a row.

SLIGO maiden winner Manoir De Mirande (4/1) followed up for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud with a comfortable success in the RBC Brewin Dolphin Rated Novice Hurdle over two miles and a furlong.

The son of It’s Gino headed odds-on chance Lureka Du Noyer after the last and was ridden out to win by two and a half lengths.

“He was a bit behind the bridle today, but picked up well in the straight,” said jockey Jack Kennedy.

“It’s amazing the bit of confidence they get from winning.”

Well-related

Ealu Tapa (7/2) made his second start a winning one when landing the Jennings Meats INH Flat Race over two miles and one furlong for Peter Fahey and Adam Ryan.

Owned by the Vinny Byrne and Ollie Dunne Partnership, the son of Getaway led entering the straight to went on to beat Millers Point by four and three quarter lengths.

“We fancied him at Punchestown and things didn’t go his way - a horse was dropping back and knocked him out of the race,” Fahey explained.

“He’s out of a sister to Peregrine Run and if he does even a third of what that horse did, we’ll be happy.”

Gives her all

She’ll Be Kept (12/1) recorded a first win in emphatic fashion when easily landing the second split of the Sweeney Oil Handicap Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles.

Owned by Anne McMahon and Alex Ryan, the Order Of St George mare charted a wide course under Phillip Enright and went clear off the home turn to beat Smackwater Jack by eight lengths. La Tene finished third, having led at the last.

“Winners have been scarce, so it was hard to be confident, but I was hopeful because she ran well at Limerick the last day, on what was just her second run for us,” said winning trainer Brian McMahon.

“She’s honest, doesn’t make a fuss about anything and gives you all she has.”