HAPPY Jacky (2/1) battled back to win the featured on the card, the Denny Hurdle over three miles for trainer Mark Fahey. Jockey Peter Smithers set a good pace off the front, but was joined before two out and headed jumping that flight.

Smithers drove Paddy Ryan’s homebred back into a narrow lead on the run-in,which he held by a neck at the line over Tullybeg. The 11-year-old didn’t return to the winner’s enclosure and went to the stable yard to cool down as is customary with him.

“That’s the usual, he goes to the stableyard after a race due to overheating - best thing for him,” Smithers said. “We said we would stretch them good and early and turn it into a stamina test, and it worked out in the end. Mark (Fahey) does a great job with him and knows him inside out.”

Tactics talk

The Patrick Foley-trained Arctic Flame opened her account over flights when staying on strongly under Simon Torrens to land the Hovis Ireland Mares Maiden Hurdle. Sent off 2/1 favourite, the Ms. S. Foley-owned daughter of Walk In The Park led after two out, keeping on well to beat Astelia by two and three quarter lengths. Foley said: “She always seemed like a filly that basically stays and it was only when we changed tactics with her in her maiden hurdles, when she was held up a bit, that she started finishing out her races better.

“You’d imagine so (go down handicap route) and see what the handicapper does. As long as the ground stays relatively good, she won’t be in it for the winter.”

Patience pays off

Jack Kennedy rode an extremely patient race on 5/4 favourite Coutach before delivering the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding from off the pace to win the Irwin’s Bakery Maiden Hurdle.

A Perth bumper winner earlier this month, the Paul Byrne-owned four-year-old was making his hurdling debut in this contest and came through to challenge on the run-in, getting up close home to beat Hobart a short-head.

Elliott said: “He was very keen in his bumpers early, so that is why we just dropped him in to settle him. Jack gave him a lovely ride and he didn’t have a hard race, so it is great. We will probably look for a little novice somewhere and see where we go, and we could definitely travel him.”

CHARLES Byrnes completed a double on the evening as Run For Mahler stayed on best under Alan O’Sullivan to win the Pepsico (Walkers Snacks) Mares INH Flat Race. Sent off 2/1, the Top Of The Hill Syndicate’s homebred led 200 yards out, keeping on well to hold Good Girl Kathleen by a neck.

Byrnes said: “She enjoyed the galloping track. We thought she was a bit unlucky in Tramore and she was getting the allowances tonight. He gave her a good ride and he will get opportunities as he is good value for his 7lb claim. She will go hurdling now. She has schooled and she jumps well.”

Winning attitude

Eastmore initiated the brace when rallying close home under Philip Byrnes to win the Dale Farm Dromona Handicap Hurdle. Backed from 13/2 to 4/1, the five-year-old gelding was headed on the run-in but got back up to win by a neck.

Byrnes said of the Justin Carthy-owned winner: “He always showed enough at home, but the first day he got sort of good to firm ground.

“The watered good ground doesn’t suit him at all - it has to be as quick as possible, his wind is not great. He did (rally well) and he had a light weight today, so that made a difference.”

DANNY Mullins also visited the winner’s enclosure twice during the evening, with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Cinammon Coco first to score in the opening Golden Cow 3-Y-O Hurdle. Sent off 6/5 favourite, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding led two out, before keeping on strongly for a nine-and-a-half length victory.

Mullins commented: “He’s the type of horse I think you won’t see the best of him until horses really go at it in a race and put him under pressure early. It is a nice performance there, but there’s loads of scope still to come from him.

“It is fairly quick. I was riding an ex-flat horse with experience, but they aren’t getting their toe in too far!”

Mullins added to that success when making all on the Sam Curling-trained Fire Coral (7/2 favourite in the Tayto Group Ltd Handicap Hurdle. Pressed from three out, the Keep It Pucked Out Syndicate-owned mare battled bravely from the last, staying on to score by two and a half lengths.

Mullins said: “She was good and tough. I’d say there could be (a bit more left in her), it will be interesting to see what the handicapper does after this today but she could be one to step up in class a little bit again off a light weight.”