GORDON Elliott bookended the card in Bellewstown with victories from Chortal (2/5 favourite) and Coyote Spirit (4/6 favourite).

Chortal and Danny Gilligan were always to the fore in the Byrne Marquees Maiden Hurdle.

They disputed the lead from the fourth flight and travelled well to take over two out. The Golden Horn gelding powered clear to come in by a decisive 13 lengths for owners Aidan J O’Ryan and Mark Madden.

Elliott said: “It was a good opportunity for him. He just wants that good ground. He jumped like a buck and we are delighted with the run.

“He’s a horse I could see winning a couple now over hurdles during the summer. He’s a horse that could go back on the flat as well.”

Harry Swan made all on Bective Stud’s Coyote Spirit in the Pat And Eddie Smith Memorial (Pro/Am) Flat Race. The favourite was pressed inside the final furlong, but stayed on well from there to put two and three-quarter lengths on the runner-up.

Elliott said: “He’s a very honest horse and, to be fair, he had a good run in Navan (third).

“He won probably despite the ground and the track, but it was nice. He will go on his holidays now. The plan would be to go hurdling after his holidays and he will be alright.”

ASPUROFTHEMOMENT (7/4 favourite) was a comfortable winner of the Yellow Sam 50th Anniversary (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle over the extended three miles.

He made headway for Eoghan Finegan three out and the pair moved into the lead after the next. The six-year-old gelding was strong on the run-in to deliver by four lengths for the From The Ground Up Syndicate.

Gavin Cromwell said: “I’d say the better ground and the step up in trip was a big help to him. He didn’t jump particularly well here today, but he got away with it and he won.

“Yeah, I think so (run over that sort of trip in the future) - he could probably come back a little bit, but ultimately he is a stayer.”

Meryem Walsh, on third-placed Captain Porridge, picked up a six-day ban for breaches of the whip guidelines.

Local winner

Letters To Juliet claimed the first prize in the Boardsmill Stud Mares’ Handicap Hurdle over the extended two miles and a furlong, as just three of the five participants completed.

First Dare and Half Past Tipsy both crashed out at the fourth flight and three out respectively.

Letters To Juliet was left second at the third-last flight and travelled well to pick up Fratas after the next.

She asserted at the last and was kept up to her work by Patrick O’Brien to see off a rallying Fratas by two and a quarter lengths at 9/2 for the Dubs & Royals Syndicate.

Trainer Pat Downey said: “Her jumping today was virtually perfect. Travelled well. We were wondering about the trip, was it a bit short for her? We had 9st 7lb and she’s the smallest filly, and I think that helped more than the actual distance.

“It is wonderful to win the Boardsmill Stud Mares’ race because I can safely say, bar the last three years in the last 40, we have supported that place with mares. They are a wonderful stud and wonderful people to deal with.”

DUNANY Point made all and jumped well to land a gamble in the Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle by a decisive three lengths. He was available at fancy prices in the morning and tumbled down to 5/1 on the off.

Kieren Buckley enjoyed a healthy cushion for most of the race and swept home by three lengths for owner Breen White from Fremantle Doctor, the 11/4 favourite.

Conor Maxwell said: “There was loads to like about it considering we were hoping he would do something like that in Limerick the other day (seventh on Thursday). He never seemed to raise a gallop in Limerick the other day.

“Bit of both (better ground and tactics helped), I’d say. Kieren said what was I thinking and I said pop him out. If something goes (on), they go, but make up his mind. We know he jumps well, so let him see his hurdles and attack them. It worked out well.

“It is our back garden, so it is great. It is my first winner here as a trainer.”

Bouncing back

Kaptain Bay (15/8) bounced back to form in the Sean And Margaret McManus Memorial Maiden Hurdle for Noel Meade and owner P.L. Polly.

He was on good terms with himself on this better ground and came through to lead before the last, He wasn’t foot-perfect there, but was in command and strode away by four and a quarter lengths.

Jockey Donagh Meyler said: “He probably just hasn’t been finishing out his races 100 per cent on that softer ground, but he rode a completely different horse. He travelled into the race well and hit the line well, so all positive and hopefully he can come on from that. Delighted with him.”

Imadpour justified 7/4 favouritism in the BoyleSports Supporting Irish Racing Handicap Hurdle. Once he grabbed the lead for Conor Stone-Walsh at the penultimate obstacle, he soon asserted and was clear at the last. He ran on to post a five-and-a-half-length success for the Jmccrew Syndicate.

Trainer Ian Donoghue said: “We honestly thought he was a cert coming here, especially with the horse (Mercury Mission) that just beat him in Wexford, who won well the other day in Limerick. You never know, though. He’s a cheap, little horse. He was very disappointing the first day then he had two good runs, and thank God he won today.”