JOCKEY Carl Millar overcame the loss of a stirrup due to some interference on the final bend to drive the Cian Collins-trained Kashchei (7/1) to a seven-and-a-half-length win from Harpy Eagle and the favourite Mr Master Mac in the Kildress Plumbing Suppliers Rated Novice Hurdle over two miles five and a half furlongs.
Mr Master Mac had taken the last in front but Kashchei was driven between horses on the bend and found more on the run-in.
Cian Collins said of the Six Degenerates Syndicate-owned winner: “To be honest, I thought this was a much better race than the last day when he was second. We would have taken being placed.
“He’s a very unassuming horse, plenty of ability there. This is his track and I could maybe see him as an Ulster National horse next year, something like that. He’s a chaser, but his jumping is very disappointing. We will work on that for the winter. I’d like to see him jump better.”
On Carl Millar keeping the partnership intact without his irons on the run-in, he added: “It got very tight. When I saw him jump the last so close, I was confident enough he would come up the hill.
“Carl gave him a great ride. He’s with me now every day, so great to get a winner with him again.”
J.P’s wink
The longer distance Vianstown Handicap Chase over two miles, seven and a half furlongs went to the J.P McManus colours with Anodandawink (4/1 joint-favourite) partnered by Peter Smithers, following up a win at Wexford last time.
The Ciaran Murphy-trained five-year-old maintained the lead after Littlebiggie fell three out and always holding the advantage from fellow-joint favourite Western Model.
Stable representative Dot Love said: “He really got the hang of it at Kilbeggan with the undulations. I thought he jumped awfully well and he got a lovely ride.
“Peter said the horse in front made him concentrate and then when the other one (Littlebiggie) fell, which was unfortunate for her, he still was focused.
“I think there is more to come from him - he’s a good, little horse.”
Gordon Elliott early on the scoreboard
THE opening T-Met Maiden Hurdle over two miles and two furlongs went to the Gordon Elliott-trained Lygon Lad (100/30) who stayed on strongest up the straight for Jack Kennedy to beat Little Ginger and Blue Trix by a length and two and a quarter lengths for owners the It Takes Allsorts Syndicate.
Baila Conmigo had made most of the running but was caught after the last and ended up fourth while the Willie Mullins-trained evens favourite World As One was brought down at the first in the 15-runner field.
Elliott’s assistant trainer Lisa O’Neill said: “It was a dramatic start, but he was in a lovely position.
“He had a bit of time off, but he has built on every run so far this season and it is lovely to see him do that because he deserved it.
“He had a handicap mark, but it was nice to go back and try and win a maiden with him because we were confident that he was capable of doing that.”
Toughed it out
The Randox Handicap Hurdle over two miles and two furlongs also had a clear leader for much of the way and Calm Flight Ahead (4/1) and Shane O’Callaghan came to the last with a length lead, though the Elliott runner Dairy Force was again giving persistent pursuit. However, the Philip Rothwell-trained leader toughed it out on the run-in, staying on to win by two lengths.
Philip Rothwell said of his winner in the colours of Phidelma Elvin and Donal Keane: “Blinkers worked and he won well the last day (Sligo). He got a big penalty the last day, and he has backed it up - good ride.
“For sale now. He’ll be a nice horse over fences, but owners are keen to sell and keep moving.”
CONOR Stone-Walsh rode a double on the card. His second winner came via Sea Of Doubt (9/2) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase over two miles two.
Sea Of Doubt, the third mare to win on the card, led before two out, and was ridden clear after last, with Stone-Walsh easing the Dan Cleere-owned six-year-old to an eight-length success over the favourite Whispering Willow.
Ian Donoghue said: “She eventually put her jumping together. I think it was August here last year we thought she was a certainty in a handicap chase and she unseated Keith (Donoghue) at the fourth.
“She’s a good, fun mare. I was just saying that’s her 19th run for us, and she has only been out of the prize money five times and two of those were unseats.
“We knew they would go hard, so I said to Conor to take his time and just concentrate on getting her jumping. Fair chance she will come back here in October.”
Eight-length winner
Earlier on the card the Andrew McNamara-trained Might Be The One (6/1) ran out an eight-length winner of the first division of the MB McGrady And Co Chartered Accountants Handicap Hurdle over two miles and two furlongs.
John Dixen had set off in front but a slow jump two out saw him reeled in by Pahlavi and the winner. Over the last, the winning daughter of Poet’s Word took it up and she opened up an advantage to get off the mark after two second placings on her last starts.
To his credit, John Dixen kept going up the run-in to hold on to second place from Pahlavi.
Andy McNamara said of the O’Rourke Construction Ltd-owned mare: “She’s not (winning out of turn) - we thought she won in Limerick at Christmas last year and it turned out in the photo finish that we were beaten.
“She has been good and consistent last year. She went straight from point-to-pointing to racing, so perhaps the break has done her well. She was placed four times last season, she was running well.
“She’s a lovely, sweet filly, so delighted for the owners that she has got her head in front. We might go chasing straight away with her. She can be a little bit keen at home, so Conor got a little bit of cover. She jumped brilliantly for him.”
Oscar swoops
In the second division of that hurdle there were still seven in with a chance two out. Polly Poppins had made most of the running but had to give way to Centaq, but the Noel Kelly-trained Invincible Oscar (4/1) was driven into contention on the outside by Simon Torrens.
Centaq still held a length lead over the last and for most of the run-in was holding his rival but Torrens got Invincible Oscar up in the last few strides for a half-length win for Mrs Shauna Kelly.
Noel Kelly said: “He (Torrens) left it sharp for us! She is what she is, she’s a low-grade horse. She did the job in a low-graded race.
“Probably the Sligo race, she came there to finish third or fourth, blew up a wee bit in the last furlong or so.
“She gives a lot of problems at home, but we sorted out all her problems. We half fancied her after the last day.”
Bumper finish
There was an exciting finish to the Dunleath INH Flat Race over two miles and two furlongs with Ifuknowuknow and Myluckymaker on opposite sides of the track.
It looked as though Myluckymaker had done enough as she led into the straight but came to the near rail as Aine O’Connor on the Sonny Carey-trained Ifuknowuknow (7/2) stuck to the far rail and stayed on to get up by three-quarters of a length in the colours of Sarah Ann Madden.
Sonny Carey said: “It is brilliant for the Maddens. ‘Boots’ (Niall) Madden is helping me at the minute, he’s brilliant to have around.
“He had decent winter form; the last run was a very good bumper. We were just waiting for a bit of nicer ground. He has plenty of gears. He jumps well, but we will speak to ‘Boots’ and we will see what the plan is.”