GANGSTER Granny (6/1) was roared home by the crowd in the Franco Hughes Away Bet Mares Handicap Hurdle as the first leg of a double for local trainer Colin McBratney.

The five-year-old mare has a real fondness for the undulations in Downpatrick and struck for the third time this year at the northern venue - all over the extended two miles, five furlongs.

Sean Flanagan produced her with her customary strong finish after the final flight, and she ran on to lead entering the straight and powered home by six lengths at 6/1 for owner James Murdoch.

McBratney said: “She is just improving all the time. She’ll keep going during the summer.

“She seems to have a bit of a fan club now!

“I worked her Thursday week ago and Sam, who rides her, said it was as good as he ever felt her. Her half-sister (Ballinea Star) has won a Group 3 on the flat.”

Doubling up

McBratney’s double came up in the next race - the J Murdoch Contracts Maiden Hurdle - as Magical Sal (4/1) obliged in the colours of racecourse announcer and TV personality Pamela Ballantine.

J.J. Slevin made all on the six-year-old mare, but they were challenged by the well-backed Thesilverbridle (2/1 - 5/4 favourite) inside the final furlong. Magical Sal kept on best, though, to hold the pursuer by half a length.

McBratney said: “She didn’t jump particularly well; in front she was a bit lonely. J.J. was brilliant on her; he waited until he got something beside him going to the top of the hill. She jumped that and he was able to fill her up.

“The yard is going well, and it is great as I went through a very lean spell. You have to ride the tide and see what happens.”

Slevin’s second success

Slevin was also successful on Joseph O’Brien’s Shoda (4/5 favourite) in the opening WTW Willis Mares Maiden Hurdle.

She was always in the front rank and led definitively after two out.

A slight mistake at the last didn’t impede her momentum as Slevin sent her home by four and a half lengths for owner Ray Grehan.

The jockey said: “She did it really well and it is great that she won. Whenever it comes together for her, she’s probably a decent mare.

“I think two miles or two miles, one furlong is ideal for her. It is nice to see her go around places like that – she handled that well, so she will have options.”

PADDY O’Hanlon was another jockey in double-winning form which was initiated by Malbay Madness (2/1) in the Randox Rated Hurdle over an extended two miles, one furlong.

From a tracking position, O’Hanlon steered him to the front after the fifth hurdle and, although they were challenged by the favourite Chanceawetmorning and Jack Kennedy before the last, Malbay Madness climbed the hill well to beat Shinnhill by two and a half lengths for Mrs J.P. Duffy.

Trainer Dermot McLoughlin said: “I was a little bit disappointed in Bellewstown (eighth) because he was a bit keen. Obviously, the race did work out very well (winner Putapouninthejar followed up in the Galway Hurdle).

“Paddy said they were going slow at halfway, so he just decided to go on and inject a bit of pace.

“He knew he would stay well up the hill, so it worked out well. We’ll see what the handicapper does and freshen him up.”

Parkgrave supplies brace

O’Hanlon’s brace of winners came up on 9/2 shot Parkgarve in the Lily O’Hare Memorial Handicap Hurdle. Forcing tactics in conjunction with first-time blinkers worked the oracle with Ian Donoghue’s six-year-old gelding.

Parkgarve made all and was soon clear. He got a breather halfway and soon went on again two out.

He then stayed on strongly after the last to leave the remainder toiling.

After the 12-length victory, O’Hanlon, in Gary O’Shaughnessy’s colours, said: “Jumped out to make use of him, first-time blinkers on. I was able to fill him up two or three times and he stuck at it well.”

GORDON Elliott’s Sneddy Eddie enjoyed a step up in trip in the extended two-mile, five-furlong handicap hurdle for four-year-olds and upwards rated 0-100.

Jack Kennedy held him up in rear and he began to make his move four out. They improved to second over the penultimate obstacle and led on the approach to the last.

The six-year-old gelding stuck to his task on the run-in to prevail by a length and a quarter at 7/1 for owner Conor McGlone.

Kennedy said: “We thought that the step up in trip would suit him and it did.

“He wasn’t travelling great early - he’s a little bit of a monkey and has a mind of his own. I kind of passed one going out on the last circuit and he started travelling.”

Anthony McCann’s Martymill was a ready winner of the Alan Dunlop, 90th Birthday Flat Race in the hands of Aine O’Connor.

Nicely backed

Martymill was nicely backed from 4/1 to 15/8 and raced in touch. O’Connor guided him to the head of affairs outside the furlong pole, and he stretched right away to score by 11 lengths for the Hasson Syndicate.

The jockey said: “He is wearing cheekpieces and that might be deemed to be ungenuine - he’s actually not, he’s just very immature. He’s a nicer-ground horse, which we got today.

“He actually tends to be a little bit funny in a bigger field, so everything went right for him today.

“Small fields suit him. Anthony had him in tip-top form and he bounced him out quick. It was a great training performance if anything.”