LOCAL trainer Sean Allen was a popular winner of the Paddy Power Cork Grand National on Sunday where his Lonesome Boatman (8/1) provided another favoured local, jockey Darragh O’Keeffe, with a treble.

Thirteen runners contested the three-and-a-half-mile marathon with O’Keeffe boldly making the running on the nine-year-old gelding, who held on well to beat Big Debates by six lengths.

Afterwards a delighted Allen reported: “That is unbelievable! Darragh rode the horse in Punchestown (last May) and put this race to us.

“Today was the plan and the man on his back - what can I say, he was brave as a lion everywhere. Even when he was five or six lengths ahead, he was still firing the horse at fences.

“I farm in Araglin, which is 40 minutes away and this is my local course. I have eight horses and my brother Darragh, who is friendly with Darragh (O’Keeffe), rides out for me and I have plenty of local support too.”

Regarding plans, the trainer quipped: “Pints will be drunk and we’ll talk about it then!”

Jockey O’Keeffe had earlier partnered a double for trainer Henry de Bromhead, beginning with Mister Pessimistic’s (4/11 favourite) useful success in the Paddy Power Horse’s Mouth Maiden Hurdle (div I).

The unbeaten point-to-point and bumper winner made virtually all and, while he erred at the second-last, rallied well to beat Grey Jude by two and three quarter lengths.

De Bromhead quipped: “In fairness, Sean Doyle recommended him and it was pretty simple once I saw what name he had, although however bad I am, the only person more pessimistic is his owner Niall O’Leary!

“I got nervous after his mistake at the second-last, but he jumped the last well and galloped out well. There aren’t many options during Christmas so he could run in Leopardstown’s Grade 1 novice over two miles.”

Cheltenham dreams

O’Keeffe and de Bromhead later combined to win the Paddy Power (Mares) Maiden Hurdle with the Kenny Alexander-owned Echoing Silence (6/5 favourite), scoring by six lengths from Divaboriva.

Regarding the promising £410,000-point-to-point purchase, de Bromhead reported: “We bought her as a four-year-old and she came very highly recommended by Sam Curling.

“She just grew so we backed off her, Kenny was really patient, in fairness to him, and we went to the bumper (at Down Royal) in the spring.

“We all dream of being at the Cheltenham festival, it’s where we dream and want to be and, while it’s a long way away, we are delighted with how this mare has started here.”

EOIN Griffin bridged a 14-year gap between graded wins in the Grade 3 Paddy Power Irish EBF Novice Chase, as the trainer’s Ol Man Dingle (11/4) scored under Irish Grand National-winning jockey Ricky Doyle.

The six-year-old was held up in the five-runner race and, having disputed the lead from the third last, eventually led on the run-in and beat You Oughta Know by two and three quarter lengths.

Griffin, with some emotion, reported: “We had really been looking forward to today and that is my first graded win since 2011. It is a long time since we’ve had a horse like this and we’ve had a few false dawns, so it is brilliant to have one like him.

“I put the tongue-tie back on Ol Man Dingle today - he doesn’t need it, but I wasn’t taking any chances. Ricky gave him a lovely ride, the horse has brilliant scope but can be a little brave. This horse will get an entry for the Drinmore now.”

Hot streak

Tackletommywoowoo (3/1) followed up a recent course-and-distance success in the Listed Paddy Power Irish EBF Novice Hurdle, to continue both trainer Declan Queally and jockey Sean O’Keeffe’s good recent spell.

O’Keeffe produced the five-year-old to lead at the last, with the pair scoring by two and a quarter lengths from Good Girl Kathleen.

Declan Queally junior reported: “He has come on a lot and, while it is a little tricky to settle him, it isn’t a massive job and when I spoke to Sean beforehand, he knew exactly what I wanted.

“The horse was bought for small money and well done to J.D. Moore who found him for us. He’ll get a few pounds in the handicap now, but sometimes with a horse like this, there is nothing wrong with having a high rating as you can box away racing in smaller fields and pick up money.”

Double down

Jockey Sean O’Keeffe had earlier initiated a double, having steered the Sean Aherne-trained, Eoin Barry-owned King In Love (14/1) to win the Paddy Power ‘Still Call Twitter’ Handicap Hurdle.

The winner led from the second last and held on well to beat Eastmore by a length and a quarter.

Aherne stated: “The ground was too good for him at Listowel the last day and I was delighted to see the dig in the ground today. He has some toe on soft ground, which he doesn’t have on good.”

THE other Paddy Power-sponsored maiden hurdle on the card was won impressively by the Robert Tyner-trained, Brendan Keogh-owned I’m Slippy (1/3 favourite), which won effortlessly under jockey Philip Enright.

Winner of the valuable Tattersalls Ireland Sales Bumper on debut last April, the son of Maxios blundered at the second-last but scored in the manner of a smart performer.

Tyner said: “He travels sweet, it was a nice introduction and he is an exciting horse. He actually loves jumping and had plenty done before he ran in his bumper, as we were biding time by keeping him amused. I hadn’t tempted fate by looking at where he goes next.”

Owner/jockey Anthony Bustin won the concluding Daniel And Orma O’Keeffe Handicap Hurdle on the Charles Byrnes-trained Cafe Con Leche (12/1), which scored an all-out nose success over Plunkett Street.

Bustin reported: “He travelled better than he usually does and jumped very well. Even leaving the parade ring, he felt up for it today and I got a nice run into the race. I didn’t think he had a chance of winning until he flew home, but at the line I wasn’t sure.”