JESSICA Harrington completed an across-the-card double on Sunday, with a winner at Naas and in the first Academy Hurdle race, run at Cork.

Harrington, who would later complete the brace with Fleur De Chine in Naas’ Bluebell Stakes, began with Quinta Do Lago’s 15/2 success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle, scoring for owners Dan Kiely and P V Breen.

Ridden by Donagh Meyler, the gelded son of Galiway raced prominently in the 15-runner race and, having led after the final flight, scored smartly by five and a half lengths from Lucy The Wire.

Meyler mentioned: “It took him a little bit to warm up into it and he jumped show jumper-like early, but he was very good and the further he went, the better he was going. He hit the line well and it was a taking performance, so I couldn’t have been any happier with him.

“I had schooled him plenty at home and at the Curragh, he is a well-mannered horse and there is plenty more progression in him.”

Fine performance

The feature race was the €45,000 Co-Op Superstores Handicap Chase and was won by the Henry de Bromhead-trained She’s A Fine Wine (100/30), for owner M.J. Dempsey and jockey Darragh O’Keeffe.

She’s A Fine Wine raced prominently throughout, led at the third last and scored easily by 10 lengths from In The Trenches.

O’Keeffe commented: “I was watching her in the Galway Blazers when she looked a winner coming into the dip, but mightn’t have seen it out.

“Everyone suggested to bring her back in trip and she likes nice ground and had a lovely weight. It worked out great.

“Once she got into a flowing rhythm, she was very good and from five out she really got going. It was a nice performance.”

Magic moments

The WTW Willis Maiden Hurdle was a conventional race for three-year-olds and was won by the Bill Durkan-trained Wizard Of Odds (6/1), for the Two D Partnership and jockey Philip Byrnes.

The son of Arizona raced mid-field before progressing to lead from two out, eventually scoring by two and a half lengths from Kilbris.

Assistant trainer Gary Bannon said: “The worry was the distance, but at the same time he was working very impressively at home.

“He will go straight to the graded Bar One Hurdle at Fairyhouse in early December next and we think he wants heavy ground. He also looks well handicapped on the flat for next year.”

TRAINER John McConnell had a breakthrough first winner for leading owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede in the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle with Kevin’s Pride (8/11 favourite), under J.J. Slevin.

The son of Mount Nelson improved to lead before the final flight but erred at that obstacle, before holding on well to score by three quarters of a length from Found A Diamond.

McConnell said: “He is my first horse for them and I told them he was a nice horse, so they were very good to trust me.

“You can see he is not a natural hurdler and jumps a lot better over a chase fence, so that’s where he’ll be going next, I’d say. I had been disappointed with him since his bumper win, but there is still a nice horse in him.”

Surviving trouble

Kazakh D’arthel (10/11 favourite) survived an early error to win the William Hill Each-Way Rated Novice Chase, scoring for trainer Gavin Cromwell under a fine ride from jockey Sean Flanagan.

Flanagan sat tight as Kazakh D’arthel blundered at the first and then settled the keen-goer behind the leaders before moving clear of his rivals in the home straight, to score by two and three quarter lengths from Rockstown Girl.

Regarding the David L’Estrange-owned winner, Flanagan reported: “He is very forward-going and, while he is brave, he isn’t ‘scopey-brave’.

“I think Philip’s horse (Enright, on Chosen Shant) running left might have taken his eye off it a bit and after the early mistake, I was trying to keep a lid on him.”

DECLAN Queally registered a 1-2 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle as Tackletommywoowoo (7/2) won under the trainer’s son and namesake, defeating his shorter-priced stablemate St Lawrence’s Well (13/8 favourite).

Recent bumper winner St Lawrence’s Well led the four-runner race until he was headed by Tackletommywoowoo at the third-last, with Declan Queally junior steering him to a comfortable 15-length success.

The winning jockey quipped: “There was only a small entry for today’s race and both my syndicates wanted to run, so I left it up to Michael (Kenneally, on runner-up) to pick, as I knew I’d win on either! It wasn’t the strongest race on paper and he did it nicely, so it worked out grand.”

Off the mark

Jaadil (9/2) gained a maiden success in the William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle, as the four-year-old filly rolled back the years for her trainer Davy Fitzgerald and successful owner John McMahon.

Ridden by Sam Ewing, Jaadil made all the running and quickened away from her rivals from the second-last, scoring by eight and a half lengths from Onefortheditch.

Regarding the An Bothareen Dubh Syndicate-owned winner Fitzgerald reported: “That was a long time coming and it is more relief than anything. I thought she’d do that in Bellewstown, but she is still learning her trade and we were probably riding her wrong.

“We might chance her at Limerick next Saturday. I go back a long time with John McMahon (owner, from Ballybunion) and his son Jack, as I rode my pony races for John.”

O’Neill on the board again

The concluding Racing Again On November 2 INH Bumper was for ‘Pro-Am’ jockeys and was won by Minella Emperor (11/4), which scored under his owner Michael O’Neill.

Previously successful at Kilbeggan in May, O’Neill led entering the home straight in Sunday’s race and the pair held on well to score by two lengths from debutante Jack Owen Jack.

Regarding his Emmet Mullins-trained winner, O’Neill stated: “It’s unbelievable to win again. I hunted for the better ground on the outside as it seemed to be better and it worked out well. He might go for a hurdle race at the end of the month and I’ll stay riding him away. He is a nice type.”