DARRAGH O’Keeffe bagged a double at Fairyhouse last Saturday with a couple of impressive winners.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Ash Hobbs was a warm order to make a winning debut over timber in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle and the 10/11 shot did so in fine style.

O’Keeffe produced his mount to lead over the second last, in the two-miler, and she soon kicked clear of front-runner Red Acres Georgie for a cosy six-and-a-half-length success.

Stable representative Robbie Power said of the Robcour-owned mare: “We’re delighted with that. She was very impressive when she won her point-to-point and she’s a big filly.

“Darragh said she’ll appreciate an extra half mile as well. We’ll keep our options open, get her home and see how she is.”

Easy win

Two races later, Granlahan was also a shade of odds-on for the Protection & Prosperity Handicap Hurdle.

Ado McGuinness’ charge had been the bridesmaid on his previous three starts, but the result was never in doubt this time.

The 10/11 favourite led two from home to post an easy nine-length win over Liceo in the two-miler.

“He did it very well and it was due with him. I was second a few times on him and I think this track really suited him today,” said O’Keeffe.

“It’s great for his owners and fair play to Ado for letting me back on him. I couldn’t ride him the last day and I was delighted to get back on him today.”

Hold-up ride

In the other handicap hurdle, the ‘120’ event over the same trip, Not In A Hurry made it two wins from three starts.

The Aidan Howard-trained gelding was held up by Simon Torrens and was slightly hampered when asked to close over the second last.

The Walk In The Park gelding knuckled down to close over the final flight and the 17/2 shot got up in the closing stages to post a neck success over No Looking Back.

“We were kind of wary coming here, first time in a handicap, and the race didn’t actually work out for him at all,” said Howard of the J.P. McManus-owned gelding.

“We’re very happy with him, he’s only a four-year-old and I don’t think he’ll have a lot more racing this season. He’s a light little horse and he’s done well.”

Raceday stewards found Darragh O’Keeffe was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly and the leading rider was suspended for two race days.

GLEN Kiln was sent off a short-priced favourite to make a winning start over fences in the opening beginners chase on the card, but just failed to peg back Manoir De Mirande late on.

The Gigginstown gelding travelled well to lead turning for home in the two-miler and got first run on his rival, holding him at the line for a short-head victory.

Gordon Elliott said of the 4/1 winner: “Jack (Kennedy) gave him a good ride, held on to him and did everything right.

“He got a fall the last day and that’s why we didn’t run him back too quickly, we gave him a bit of a break. He winged the last two and he was good.”

Thrilling finish

The other beginners chase on the card also produced a good finish with Antrim Coast gaining a deserved victory.

Danny Mullins had the 6/1 shot prominent throughout and, despite jumping to his left at times, the Rory Devine-trained gelding knuckled down well in the closing stages.

He battled it out with Kainsbourg in the straight and got the better of that rival in the closing stages to post a three-parts-of-a-length success.

“He was entitled to do that, he had loads to experience,” said Devine of the Watchman Racing-owned gelding. “We’re just starting to get to know him and hopefully he can kick on from here.

“That’s my first jumps winner, we’ve had four on the flat. Funny it’s all the big tracks, three at the Curragh, one at Leopardstown and one here, so we’re keeping good company.”

IN the other chase on the card Pourquoi Poi was another to bag a deserved success. The Paul Flynn-trained gelding had been runner-up on his previous two outings and went to post a 10/3 shot.

Danny Gilligan produced his mount to dispute before the second last and he led before the final fence to beat Smallcraftwarning by three and three-quarter lengths.

“He jumps so well, with all the fences out the last day (in Sligo) it didn’t suit him at all and he ran a cracker,” said Flynn.

“He’ll probably go to Down Royal now, hopefully there will be nice ground there at the end of the month. There is a three mile up there.”

Red letter day for Dorgan

It was a big day for the Dorgan family, as the family-owned Streamhill gave amateur rider Grace her first winner in the concluding GavinLynchRacing-sponsored bumper.

The Padraig Butler-trained mare hit the front a furlong and a half from home and the 11/1 shot stayed on well in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-half-length win. “That’s phenomenal, nothing is ever going to compare to it,” said a delighted Dorgan.

“Rounding the back bend, she was full of running underneath me and every time I gave her a little squeeze, she gave me more. When we came to the line, I couldn’t believe that I was still in front!”

On the possible celebrations, she added: “I’ll get a pizza anyway, I’m starving. Probably tomorrow evening we might go for a few drinks and celebrate, you’d have to celebrate your first winner anyway.”

Raceday stewards found Ms M.A. McCarthy in breach of Rule 10.3(b)(use of the whip out of contention) and suspended her for two race days.