LOCAL connections were celebrating as Gangster Granny notched up her second Downpatrick victory this year when taking the Go fibrefast With Fibrus Rated Novice Hurdle on Tuesday.

Successful in a handicap hurdle over the same course and distance in May, the Colin McBratney-trained 11/2 chance edged past front-running 5/2 shot Lemmy Caution well inside the final furlong.

She powered clear late on under Darragh O’Keeffe for a five-and-a-half-length win, with 2/1 favourite Playtime two and a quarter lengths away in third place, having failed to secure a clear run both before and after the final hurdle.

McBratney said of the James Murdoch-owned five-year-old: “Delighted! He gave her a great ride. We wanted to go to Galway with her, so if he (the handicapper) gives her a couple of pounds we could get into a 0-110.

“That’s the next plan and there is probably something back here for her in August. James is a local lad and she has a lot of local support.”

Crystal shines bright

The Richie Deegan-ridden Fastnet Crystal gave Joseph O’Brien his first winner of the day in the opening ITBA (Mares) Maiden Hurdle for owners Nicholas Fahy, Orla Fahy and the Two Sheets to the Wind Syndicate.

A strong 13/8 favourite, she too asserted late on to beat Mercurial Sea by six and a half lengths. Deegan said: “We were going to jump out and ride her forward, but we were swept off our feet a little bit early, so we just had to give her a chance.

“She jumped like a buck. I schooled her a couple of weeks ago and she is very good. She’s a mare that definitely was fancied coming here.” O’Brien later added to the success with winners at both Killarney and Longchamp.

Another winning favourite on the Downpatrick card was the Gavin Cromwell-trained Luker’s Tipple who ran away with the Randox Maiden Hurdle under Keith Donoghue.

Previously an eight-time runner-up, the 5/6 favourite went clear at the second-last hurdle and coasted to a 31-length win over Fortis Et Liber. Donoghue reported: “I said earlier today that I would jump out and let him bowl and put them under pressure. Then, the more I was thinking about it, I thought I wouldn’t!

“Then, when we jumped the first, I said ‘ah here’ as I felt like he was going, so I just let him on.

“He definitely deserved that; he has been second enough times.”

TRAINER Pat Collins and Paddy O’Brien combined to take the Join Racing TV Now With A Free Handicap Hurdle with the 11/1 chance Small Bucks, her second career success.

In her trainer’s own colours, she led after the second-last hurdle and went clear from the last to win by seven and a half lengths from Sea Of Doubt who came through for the runner-up spot on the long run-in.

Paddy O’Brien said: “She over-raced over the first couple - I suppose it was her first day without the hood, so she was just a bit lit up at the start. Once she relaxed, I was happy. I was taking her back and filling her the whole way. She will jump a fence in time as well.”

Owned and bred by Niall Coburn, Marcelrock was a winner on his racecourse debut in the Plus 2 Print Remembering Tony Oakes MBE Maiden Hurdle.

Ridden by Sam Ewing for trainer Ross Crawford, the 16/1 chance led before the final hurdle to beat 80/1 shot Magical Sal by four and a quarter lengths, a big step up on two unplaced efforts in point-to-points.

Crawford said: “He’s still very green and his jumping got better the further he went. Sam gave him a great ride. It didn’t actually work out the way we had planned, but that’s why you have somebody with experience like Sam, because you can go to Plans B and C.”

EASILY the longest-priced winner of the day was the David O’Brien-trained Tolka Row who battled well for his success in the Tote Guarantee Never Beaten By SP Handicap Hurdle.

A 33/1 chance for owner Aidan Fogarty, the Josh Williamson-ridden six-year-old headed 15/8 favourite Nakassama on the uphill run to the line to win by a length and a half. The winning jockey was handed a four-day whip suspension.

David O’Brien said: “He had a great run in Tramore and then really disappointed (in Bellewstown), but I just think they over-watered and he got stuck in it.

“He stays well and I’d say three miles for him. For a big-bodied horse, it is amazing that he loves a bit of good ground. He’s a wicked hardy horse, he takes his work. We’ll see what the handicapper does.”

Ridden by John Gleeson on his first start for Emmet Mullins, Its Time For A Run landed the concluding Downpatrick Family Fun Day INH Flat Race at odds of 3/1.

The John Kenny-owned five-year-old went to the front before the furlong pole to beat 5/2 favourite Payslip by two lengths.

Gleeson said: “He had two runs over hurdles for Pat Doyle, and I’d say he was a bit weak. He strengthened up there now and it was a nice performance. I’d say he’s still learning. He’s a horse that will have no bother getting further again. He came off it early, but I liked his attitude.”