THE Gordon Elliott-trained What’s Up Darling justified 11/8 favouritism when easily accounting for five rivals in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Captain Christy Rated Novice Chase.

Well placed throughout under Jack Kennedy, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding came through to lead four out, keeping on strongly to beat Donnie Devito by 10 lengths.

Kennedy reported of the winner: “He has loads of ability but has had a mind of his own and obviously the win at Killarney has done him the world of good. I was in front a long way out today but he never looked anywhere except forwards and the cheekpieces sharpened him up.

“He stays well, galloped to the line and hopefully he is going the right way now. There could definitely be one of those big handicap chase pots in him.”

Returned to form

Trainer Sam Curling initiated a double as 5/1 co-favourite Queenofthelodge returned to form in the Derrinlaur Mares Handicap Hurdle.

Prominent throughout under Phillip Enright, the Sink Or Swim Syndicate-owned five-year-old asserted after two out, keeping on strongly to score by four and three-quarter lengths.

Curling commented: “I’d say she had too much of it at Killarney when she never rose a gallop but is back to herself now. She has been working well so we were expecting a good run and we’re delighted.

“Farrier Dan Breen, who bred her, heads the syndicate and the lads are all local. Dan bred some good horses including Maries Rock and this mare has a good pedigree too, so I’d say he’ll breed off her in time.

“There is a race for her at the November meeting in Cheltenham so should go for that, although she wouldn’t want the ground any softer than today.”

Double up

Diminutive mare Sallap brought up the brace when winning the Glenary Handicap Hurdle under jockey Sean O’Keeffe.

Sent off 14/1, the five-year-old raced wide throughout, led after the second-last and scored a hard-fought three-parts of a length win over Great Bird. Curling reported: “Willie (Cleary, owner) bred her, so this is job done. She is a tiny little thing, she’s only 15 hands, and I’d say that could have been her day. She had an okay run in Ballinrobe but ran no race the last day in Wexford, so we were clutching at straws today and just rode her to run well. I’d say she enjoyed that ground.”

Two in a week as She Flies in again

AN easy winner at Roscommon on Monday, Hope She Flies made it back-to-back wins when staying on well from off the pace under Shane Fitzgerald to land the Ravens Rock Novice Handicap Hurdle.

Produced to head Demanding Gerry at the final flight, the 7/2 favourite kept on nicely to win by one and three-quarter lengths.

Winning owner/trainer Brian Francis Cawley said: “We had to run as she’s 3lb well-in and, if she hadn’t come out of her Roscommon race, we wouldn’t have come but everything was A1 and she delivered again.

“The way we looked at it, we had nothing to lose by coming and we can now look and see what rating we get.

“She has won twice and that is great.

“At Roscommon, she got a freebie out in front, nothing took her on and even today she idled when she was in front. She is doing great, she is a five-year-old and you’d like to think she could go again.

“We only have a handful of horses and Shane (Fitzgerald) is a good friend to myself and Paul (brother) and is up and down to us the whole time.”

First win

Spellacy’s Cross recorded the first win of his career when staying on best to land the concluding Tickincor Handicap Chase.

An 18-race maiden prior to the race, the six-year-old had been placed over both hurdles and fences.

Settled in mid-division by Donagh Meyler, the 9/2 joint favourite came through to lead at the penultimate fence, keeping on well after the last to beat Romella by three-quarters of a length.

Winning owner/trainer James Barcoe said: “He deserved that as he had never done anything wrong, is a lovely-mannered horse and we are lucky to have him.

“I took a chance in buying him (for 3,000gns last September) as he had a grand run one day, is a well-bred horse and it is nice to get one like him for that sort of money. He also has a nice mark over hurdles.

“He is jointly-owned by an American man John O’Neill, whose daughter Claire is here today.”

THE Gavin Cromwell-trained Court Canyon justified strong favouritism when making a winning debut over flights in the Kilmore Maiden Hurdle. Owned by Jarlath Conway, the 4/6 favourite came through to head Garnetot at the last, before drawing clear to score by one and a quarter lengths.

Winning rider Keith Donoghue said: “He did it well and had the experience from his point-to-point. He disappointed us in two bumpers but had little excuses and we expected him to do that today.

“It was a competitive race, we went a good gallop and I’d say the ground’s a bit slower than we thought it was, so it caught my horse a little after he hit the front. I’d say this is his trip, but could even come back too as he is such a good jumper. I think he’ll also be better over a fence in time.”

Fifth win

John McConnell’s Rexem recorded the fifth success of his career when staying on best under Alex Harvey to take the Slievenamon Claiming Hurdle.

A dual previous scorer over hurdles, the gelding also boasted both a bumper and chase win to his name.

However, having failed to set the world alight of late, connections opted to drop the eight-year-old in class here.

Travelling strongly throughout, the 7/2 chance headed Jerandme after the last, keeping on strongly to win by half a length in the colours of Derek Kierans.

Alex Harvey said: “I got a lovely tow into the race off the eventual-second (Jerandme) and he settled well and jumped brilliantly.

“He hadn’t been finishing out his races lately, so I wanted to come with one rattle and he put it to bed by winging both the second-last and the last.

“He is a very good horse on his day and is a very good moving horse, but had just lost his way. He seems to enjoy jumping fences, which seems to have sweetened him up.

“Hopefully if John (McConnell) still has him, he might pick up one or two more.” There were no claims following the race.