RELIEVED Of Duties (2/1 favourite) made a winning debut over fences in the Protection & Prosperity Financial Services Supporting Louth GAA Beginners Chase.

Trained for Robcour by Gordon Elliott, the Sholokhov gelding won a point-to-point for Denis Murphy and was successful in a maiden hurdle at Cork last year. Here, he tracked the front-running Full Of Life and went on after the second-last to beat that rival by a length and a half.

Winning rider Jack Kennedy said: “He jumped great. He probably only did what he had to in front. We’re happy with him and it was a nice start over fences. He’s a nice horse and hopefully a fence will bring out more improvement in him.”

Perfect start

Barry Lyndon (5/2) also made a perfect start over fences when claiming the O’Neills.com Irish EBF Beginners Chase. Paddy O’Brien tracked the front-running Millforce in the two-mile-five contest before sending his mount to the front over the second last.

The Imperial Monarch gelding, owned by Mrs Fidelma Toole, galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-quarter-length success over the long-time leader.

Well-backed 5/6 favourite Kamikaz Du Plessis appeared to cock his jaw turning for home and could only finish a well-beaten third.

McLoughlin said afterwards: “It’s the first time he’s jumped on grass, so hopefully he’ll improve plenty from it. We’ll look for a winners’ contest or a novice. He will improve and hopefully he can improve enough to get in with the big boys.”

PAUL’S Dream (3/1 favourite) continued her consistent run of form with a convincing success in the Powerscreen New England Supporting Louth GAA Handicap Hurdle.

The Mahler mare claimed front-runner Must Meet Cecil over the second last and went on to post a three-and-a-half-length win over Red Glory.

Trainer Tony Mullins said: “The big dream would be something like the Galway Hurdle next year. Maybe that’s a bit high to be aiming, but she’s improving. She was called after the main man in the syndicate that owns her, Paul Burke, who died of cancer two years ago.

“She’s owned by the Shoot A Hoop Syndicate from Athlone, but Bronson Racing asked us for the loan of her for the day because of the Louth GAA function here today.”

On a roll

Clonbury Bridge (10/1) provided trainer Philip Dempsey with his third winner in three days when landing the IFM Ltd Supporting Louth GAA Handicap Chase. Keith Donoghue had the nine-year-old on the front end throughout and he stayed on well to beat Western Model by a length and a half.

Dempsey said: “A good man, John Bergin, was buried yesterday, a brother of one of the CJ & T Syndicate members. He was very good to us when we were young, he had 13 winners himself in his day and was a big dog man in the end. He’s been a great horse for the lads.”

Notions

A promising third at Ballinrobe, High Notions (11/8 favorite) stepped forward from that debut to win the Adare Manor Opportunity Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Shane O’Callaghan sat second on the daughter of Affinisea, as Apples Jane went off into a clear lead and, as the front-runner tired, the winner went on before the second-last.

Newcomer Susie Lenglen covered the move and threw down a strong challenge after the last, but was held by three parts of a length.

Sonny Carey trains the five-year-old for the I’m Going To No Home Syndicate and said: “Shane was very good on her, it wasn’t easy the way the race was run, so it was great for him.

“She’s not big but she’s tough. We’ll see what mark she gets and go from there, make a little plan. I wouldn’t say she would be a middle of winter filly.”

CARRIG Padraig (12/1) slipped the field at halfway to win the Deeside Agri Services Supporting Louth GAA (Ladies Pro/Am) Flat Race. Laura Costello’s mount wouldn’t settle early and she elected to let him stride on racing up towards Ballyhack.

The winner, owned and bred by Joseph Fitzgerald, opened up a big advantage running downhill from there and kept going in the straight to come home nine lengths clear of odds-on favourite Minella Jury.

“He had good enough form and deserved to be bang there,” said Killeagh, Co Cork-based trainer Martin Fitzgerald. Laura gave him a very good ride, she let him roll on and she knew what she was doing.

“I work him around Liam Burke’s gallop and I think that’s one of the best gallops in the country. You’d get a very good blow into a horse there.”

Big price

Hickeys Hill was a 50/1 winner for the season’s leading jump jockey Darragh O’Keeffe in the FLC Frank Lynch & Co Supporting Louth GAA Handicap Hurdle.

Having moved into fourth at the last, he stayed on well in the closing stages to post a three-quarter-length win over market leader Cowper Hall.

“It was his first go in a handicap, he has been a touch disappointing in maiden hurdles,” said trainer Andrew McNamara of John Griffin’s six-year-old.

“Darragh was absolutely brilliant on him. He’s not a simple horse to ride, he’s keen and he’s not a strong finisher and he hangs a bit as well. He has the scope to jump a fence, he won a point-to-point.

“I’d be hoping he wouldn’t get a huge amount for today and there might be another one in him. I’d say he needs a bit of nice ground, so that might be it for him, but at least he’s going out on a good note.”