PHILIP Enright continued his excellent start to the new jumps’ season with a double at Cork on Monday, bringing him to 15 wins already this term. The in-form rider began by making all in the opening mares’ maiden hurdle on the Eddie Power-trained Love At Sea (5/2), who rallied on the run-in to regain the advantage from 11/8 favourite Kabylia and score by a half-length.

“She is a nice filly who ran well for John Reddington from the front last year, so we went with those tactics again,” Power commented. “She badly needed the break we gave her, she has come back and being fully exposed rated 108 today, she was entitled to get her day.

“Sean (Dalton, owner) is the main man in my yard and I wouldn’t have taken out my license only for him, but haven’t looked back since. I have another couple of clients, although I’d like to keep the numbers small and do the job right.”

Super sub

Enright later filled in for stood-down Sean O’Keeffe on the Sean Aherne-owned-and-trained The Border Boy, which landed a gamble (14s into 17/2) in the Follow Us On Instagram Handicap Hurdle (Div II). Racing prominently throughout, the 72-rated winner eventually scored by two and three-quarter lengths from Bannow Blaze.

“I was hopeful of a good run, but I suppose you couldn’t be confident as he hadn’t won before now,” Aherne reported. He was finding it very difficult to win but the IHRB’s drop in the basement rating was a huge help and is a great idea for the lower-class horses.

“He might be a little nervous in behind horses and with the noise of hurdles and things, so I think he was very happy out in front today. We got a race out of him, so I’m delighted to get that.”

THE most valuable event was the €17,000 Follow Us On Twitter Hurdle, which attracted just two runners, with the Margaret O’Rourke-owned, Cian Quirke-partnered Smooth Tom (4/5 favourite) defeating Mozzies Sister, to continue the good run of trainer Andy Slattery.

Declan Queally’s Mozzies Sister made the running and was swept aside by Smooth Tom at the last, with a length and a half separating the pair at the line.

Willie Slattery, representing his trainer brother, reported: “When the entries came out there were only two horses who counted, and both turned up. All the press were tipping the other one but I couldn’t see how, because we were never going to help Mozzies Sister, as we have a quicker flat horse.

“I don’t think the weight concession (18lb) counted with the speed they went as Mozzies Sister would have had to go hard for it to count. Our horse goes on every ground but doesn’t like big fields and we’ll keep him to small-field graded races now.”

Small stable

Jockeys’ championship-leader Darragh O’Keeffe was on the mark in the Fermoy Handicap Hurdle, when partnering Cappa Hill (8/1) for trainer Sean Allen and owner/breeder Eileen O’Connor. Held up in the early stages, the pair improved to lead at the final flight and went on to score by half a length.

On his second success, Allen reported: “We got Cappa Hill’s wind done after the last day, which seems to have worked the oracle. If anyone wants to buy him, he is for sale and he should win again. He’ll jump a fence and has been very consistent.

“I’m a farmer, but we have 10 horses so it is an expensive hobby. We’re in Araglin and Darragh, who rides, is my brother and Johnny Allen (leading Australian flat jockey) is my cousin.”

Horses for courses

Jockey Derek O’Connor was reunited with the Tony Martin-trained Young Lucy for the first time since landing a course bumper in May 2023 and here the mare ended a frustrating spell when landing the Kanturk Handicap Hurdle at odds of 4/1 joint-favourite.

Held up in mid-field, the six-year-old led in the closing stages and went on to score snugly by a half-length from Warm In Gorey.

Regarding the Ray Grehan-owned winner, O’Connor commented: “She is very willing and Tony said she would be suited by an extra two furlongs and he was right.

“I feel if she had the extra distance, she would have put in a very nice performance, but that was good all the same.”

KRIS Weld’s colours were carried to victory in the concluding bumper, as Passenger (2/1 favourite) gained a belated first success for Dermot Weld and Finny Maguire. The Moyglare Stud Farm-bred gelding travelled well throughout and scooted clear to win by four and a quarter lengths.

“He is a lovely horse, one we’ve always liked and is from a great family, so it’s a win which means a lot to me,” the owner commented. “He was bred to win a Derby, but that wasn’t going to happen.

“Finny is keen to ride him again, so we might look to Listowel and Chris Hayes is keen to ride him on the flat as well, so we’ll talk to Dad and make a plan.”

Patience pays off

Gavin Cromwell’s Wash Yer Hands Syndicate were on the mark with Pampar Lady (100/30 favourite) in the Follow Us On Instagram Handicap Hurdle, as the longstanding maiden scored under a well-judged Keith Donoghue-ride. Racing in mid-field, she progressed to challenge in the straight and went on to score by four lengths from Vale Of Glory.

“She was placed as a four-year-old, but is six now and it took until now to win,” Cromwell commented. “It has been frustrating for the syndicate, but nice that she has won. She is learning how to race better and Keith gave her a chance to settle.”

Money talks

Harry Kelly’s William Tell (4/5 favourite) improved on a recent second to win the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle. Otto Daniel Kueres’ home-bred raced prominently under Peter Smithers and asserted at the last, going on to win by two lengths.

“He had a nice run the last day and all he had to do was to maintain that today,” Kelly stated. “He is massive and it wasn’t the original plan to be running him at this time of year, but thank God we got there. He was going to win first-time out in a point-to-point on soft ground earlier this year, but fell.

“He is owned by a good group, so I’m delighted for them, although he is for sale.”