WILLIE Mullins trained the first two home in the featured Listed RYBO Handicap Hurdle, as 22/1 outsider Kalix Delabarriere beat even bigger-priced stablemate Sea Of Sands.

Pulled up on his last two starts, the Slaneyville Syndicate-owned gelding was held up towards rear early on. Making headway into mid-division entering the straight, Sean Cleary-Farrell produced the six-year-old to lead before the last, skipping clear on the run-in to score by five lengths.

“I’m delighted for Sean to have a nice winner on a big day,” said Mullins. “He had first time cheekpieces on today and Sean just bit his lip and bided his time during the race. They are difficult conditions to ride in here today.

“A lot of the jockeys are not sure what the best way is to ride the track with the wind. It’s a tremendous victory for Sean and it’ll be a great tonic for Lar Byrne, who is a bit under the weather at the moment.”

Lass leads the way

Gavin Cromwell sent out a double on the afternoon. Me Wee Bonnie Lass was first to strike when landing the Listed Boyle Sports Mares Handicap Chase under Paddy O’Brien. Held up in the early stages, the 15/2 chance moved closer to track the leaders after jumping four out. Pushed up on the outside of runners entering the straight, the Mark Coleman-owned mare came through to head Kilbarry Saint at the penultimate fence. Staying on strongly from the back of the last, Me Wee Bonnie Lass landed the spoils by 10 lengths.

“There was loads of pace and she was flat to the boards early on, but she got into a great rhythm,” said Cromwell. “Bar missing one down the back she jumped really well and stayed on really well. I’ve won this race a couple of times and it’s a nice race to win.”

Bell gets blacktype

Cromwell completed the brace as Belladaball stayed on best under Declan Lavery to take the concluding Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Total Enjoyment Mares INH Flat Race.

Despite shaping well in two starts earlier in the season, the Walsh and Galloping Gallivanters-owned mare was sent off 9/1 to make the breakthrough. Sitting mid-division for much of the contest, Lavery moved second in pursuit of leader Some Pretender two furlongs out.

Getting to the front at the furlong pole, Belladaball kept on well for a three-length victory.

“She travelled strongly and picked up well, she was impressive,” said Cromwell. “She ran okay the last day, I’m surprised with that performance and maybe she’s better than we thought she was.

“I thought she was up to winning a summer bumper and that we might nick a bit of blacktype here. I’ve no plan with her, I wouldn’t rule out Punchestown.”

SEPT Etoiles sprang an 80/1 shock in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final for Gordon Elliott. Danny Gilligan was persistent on the Doctor Dino gelding, who was being niggled along heading out on the final circuit.

He stayed on into contention turning for home and hit the front over the last to post a six-length success over Vitorio Piel. “He dropped him in and hunted around, nearly all the horses that were up the front pulled up,” said Elliott.

“I don’t know what happened the last day, he never travelled a yard. Maybe he’s a bit of a monkey, but he won anyway so we’re happy. It’s a nice race to win, a great pot and the Sloans (owners) are big supporters of Cullentra.”

Rules breakthrough for Anderson

Scottish amateur Nicole Lockhead Anderson partnered The Gradual Slope to victory in the Blackrock College AFC Ladies National Handicap Chase. The Sean O’Brien-trained grey came with a late surge in the two-mile-five-furlong contest to deny Vaureal by a head. It was a first ride on the racecourse for Lockhead Anderson, who works for leading point-to-point handler Sam Curling.

She said after her victory on the 16/1 shot: “It’s amazing. He was very tough and stayed on well, it’s brilliant. He jumped his way into a position to challenge turning in and stayed on very well.

Winning trainer O’Brien added: “The trip was a bit short for us, but the owner (Mark McDonagh) rang me and said he’d like to have a runner at the festival here. Mark has been an unbelievable supporter of mine. Days like this make it an awful lot easier and we’ll enjoy it.”

THE Henry de Bromhead-trained Midnight Jet showed a smart turn of foot to win the Tom Quinlan Electrical Maiden Hurdle. Sent off 9/2 under Darragh O’Keeffe, the Anthony Head-owned gelding was in the leading three or four horses throughout.

Moving second with three to jump, Midnight Jet closed on leader He Can’t Dance on the run to the penultimate hurdle. Quickening up to lead between the final two flights, Midnight Jet went away to win by three and a half lengths.

“It was a good performance. He ran okay in Cork and Leopardstown,” said O’Keeffe. “He had a little break, was working really well and jumped better at home. We were confident of a good run. It’s tough conditions, there is a nice headwind, but his jumping was much better today and he stuck it out well to the line.”

Alliteration aces it

Philip Dempsey’s Alliteration made all under Donagh Meyler to run out a game winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle. In front from flag fall, the William Flood-owned 9/2 chance looked in trouble after two out, as her rivals closed up.

However, with the final flight omitted, Alliteration found plenty for pressure, staying on strongly to score by three-quarters of a length.

“I’m delighted to get that with her,” said Dempsey. “I put the cheekpieces on her because she didn’t jump in Leopardstown. We schooled her in cheekpieces and she was very good.

“We’ll see where we go now. William might be keen to try and get some blacktype. The way she jumped today she wouldn’t be out of place in a handicap.”