THE season’s leading jockeys Darragh O’Keeffe and Daniel King were among the winners at Downpatrick on Monday afternoon.

O’Keeffe reached the 35 winner-mark, 12 clear of his fellow Corkman, when taking the North Down Marquees Maiden Hurdle on the Philip Rothwell-trained Majestic Horizon. The 5/2 chance edged ahead on the run to the second-last hurdle and stuck to his task well late on to hold Colin Bowe’s 6/1 shot Fortis Et Liber by three-parts of a length.

Once again the pacesetter in the title race, O’Keeffe reported: “Philip said beforehand that he thought he was more than capable of winning races. He’ll learn plenty from racing around there, he jumps really well, so nice to get that with him.”

Welcome tonic

O’Keeffe claimed runner-up honours in the preceding WillWeGo.com Handicap Hurdle, in which Danny Mullins made most of the running on 14/1 chance Ripsnorter.

The five-year-old stayed on for pressure from the final hurdle to record a seven-length success over Ado McGuinness’ 7/2 chance Granlahan, becoming a fourth winner this season for trainer Billy Lanigan.

He Who Dares, the strong 11/8 favourite for the race, was fortunate not to come down after a mistake the second-last hurdle when poised to challenge. He couldn’t recover from the error and then lost more ground when running short of room on the rail after the last before finishing in fifth place.

Lanigan said: “Danny is very lucky for us. Danny is a past master at those front-racing tactics. This horse is owned by a great, long-standing friend of mine named Hugh Laing. Hugh hasn’t been very well of late, so I hope this gives him a boost. This horse will jump a fence, so there’s good days ahead.”

DANIEL King provided Tony Martin with the first of two winners on the day when landing the Randox Maiden Hurdle on Eben Zaabeel.

In the well-known colours of owner Edward Ware, the strong 10/11 favourite had a little in hand when scoring by a length and three-parts from Gordon Elliott’s front-running 15/8 shot Euro Agent.

Martin said: “That man is one of the best lads riding and he knows where the winning post is and that is what counts.

“Dan got him switched off as he was a bit keen through the race. He was a bit novicey too, but overall, you’d be very happy and he won well.”

Favourite obliges

The 3/1 favourite Bruant completed the Tony Martin double in the AJC Group Handicap Hurdle. Kevin Sexton was in the saddle for this one and he gave the Elizabethcarsonracing Syndicate-owned five-year-old a most confident ride to win by a length and a half from the Cian Collins-trained 12/1 shot Kashchei.

Sexton said, “I rode him to get the trip and he got it well. The main thing is switching him off.

“It is deadly riding for Tony because he puts no pressure on you and fills you with confidence. The horses are flying at the minute.”

Sexton double

The Kildare jockey enjoyed a second success of his own when landing the concluding Downpatrick Racecourse Style Awards Handicap on the Ian Donoghue-trained Beggars Rock.

The seven-year-old was sent off at odds of 4/1 to add to his success at Wexford earlier this month and he led heading out onto the final circuit before readily seeing off the challenge of 3/1 chance Presenting Lad by four and three-parts of a length for the Beggars Cant Be Choosers Syndicate.

Ian Donoghue said: “He got it handy there in front today, his jumping is very good. I’m delighted for the owners. I’d say we might end up coming back over hurdles the next day here, he’s rated 100 over hurdles.”

TRAINER Andy Slattery was a winner at both of Monday’s fixtures, with the Philip Donovan-ridden Killeemore Lad his Downpatrick scorer in the Cosy Group Beginners Chase.

Runner-up on his two previous starts, the Lumper Lane Syndicate-owned 7/2 chance ran out a two-and-a-half-length winner from the Ger O’Leary-trained 5/2 joint-favourite Jabbar.

Donovan reported: “His jumping is impeccable. He has a high cruising speed, and this is a good horse, he just had a bit of trouble along the way.

“He’s a horse at home that would show you all the signs that he wants to go and do it. I was happy everywhere today.”

Important owners

Driveonwill took the Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Handicap Chase for trainer Ross O’Sullivan, marking a second course-and-distance success for the Kiltale Racing Syndicate-owned six-year-old.

With Donagh Meyler in the saddle, the 9/1 chance got the better of the Liam Lennon-trained 12/1 shot Kalsman on the uphill run to the finish to win by two and a quarter lengths.

O’Sullivan said, “Donagh couldn’t get over how well he travelled today. He gets on very well with the horse and I’m delighted for him as well. We have been hitting the crossbar the last couple of weeks and a few near misses, so it was lovely for us.

“He’s a lovely horse and I’m delighted for the people that own him, they are from Meath and Paul Garvey would be the head of the syndicate. He would be a friend of ours and he actually built our house!”