PAT Foley had a day to remember at Fairyhouse on Tuesday when saddling his first double, courtesy of Fad Eadrainn and Castle Field Boy.

The former attracted late support in the featured rated hurdle and quickened up in some style in the two-and-a-half-mile contest to run out an easy winner.

Simon Torrens produced the 13/2 shot (16/1 in the morning) to lead going to the second last and he found another gear before the final flight to scoot clear.

The Mustameet gelding could afford to ease down late on to secure a four-and-three-quarter-length win over last season’s Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner Air Of Entitlement.

“It’s always great to get a double, I think that’s the first one in my name,” said Foley. “I’m delighted for Richard and Suzanne (Kennedy), they are fantastic owners. We recommended this horse to them a couple of years ago and it’s after working out well for them.

Dropping back

“We dropped him back to two and a half today knowing that he should get that. I was a bit surprised how easily he won it, taking on the horses he was taking on. He always had the ability.”

Castle Field Boy was the first leg of the double in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase. Eoin Staples gave the 8/1 shot a well-judged ride as he chased down front-runner Well Del in the closing stages to post a four-length success.

“We’re delighted with him, we didn’t think he’d be fit enough to be honest,” said Foley. “I’m delighted that he has gone and done it, it’ll do his confidence the world of good.

“It was a bit of a stop/start season last season with him, we didn’t get a clear run with him. Hopefully that’s a good start this season.”

TED Walsh was another to strike twice on the card, with two well-backed favourites Adrienne and Sticwiththeprocess. The former ran out a cosy winner of the WTW Willis 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle under Shane O’Callaghan.

She travelled well into the straight and the 6/4 joint-favourite quickened up smartly on the run-in to beat I’ll Be Handy by four and a half lengths.

“Her run (to finish third) in Punchestown was a good run and she followed it up there,” said Walsh.

“She was entitled either to win or go close. She’ll probably win a maiden on the flat as well. She likes jumping, so she’ll stay jumping at the moment. She’s a fine big mare, Helen (wife) bred her and we had the dam.”

’Lairy so and so’

A couple of races later, Walsh struck again with the J.P. McManus-owned Sticwiththeprocess. Mark Walsh produced the 8/11 shot to lead over the last and was left clear by the fall of Khmer.

The Blue Bresil gelding was doing enough late on to beat Minella Diamond by a length and three quarters.

Walsh said afterwards: “He should jump a fence, he’s a big old fella. You always think they’re going to jump fences, but it’s a different ball game and they have to be a bit more of a man about it. He’s a big lairy so and so and just does enough.”

Back in form

Owner J.P. McManus and rider Mark Walsh also secured doubles when the Robert Tyner-trained Better Times Ahead bounced back to winning ways in the concluding three-mile handicap hurdle.

The 6/1 shot was held up out the back before coming with a late charge to beat Kingkong Ciergues by a length and a half.

Racing manager Frank Berry said: “He’s a grand old horse and loves that ground. He got a grand ride from Mark and stayed on well. He’s a bit lower over hurdles and he’ll tip away between both codes. It’s great to get a win out of him again.”

MINELLA Yoga made the most of his opportunity, as second reserve, when running out a cosy winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle.

Darragh O’Keeffe was prominent throughout on John Nallen’s charge and he led before the second last for a five-length win over Apache Peak.

Assistant trainer James ‘Corky’ Carroll said of the 10/1 shot: “He’s a fine big horse. We bought him as a yearling, but he was always going to be too big for the flat.

“I was a little worried about the ground, but Darragh said he went through it and that he jumps for fun. He said even coming to the line he was only learning his job, that he was going further away. He has a future and I’d imagine he’s for sale.”

Bossing it

O’Keeffe was another who was landing a double having also partnered Bossofthebrownies to success in the beginners chase. The Mouse Morris-trained gelding led two out in the three-miler and the 13/2 shot soon asserted for an impressive 13-length success in the colours of Anne Daly. “A bit of age and fences made a difference, he was crying out for them,” said Morris.

“He had some good form, he was second a few times (over hurdles). You can’t beat age. That’s his game anyway, he jumped great for his first time out. I’ll play it by ear now.”

Griffin continues fine run

Eoin Griffin has his string in fine form and saddled his third winner in the space of five days when Good World bounced back to form in the William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle.

Calum Hogan led before two out on the 10-year-old and the 12/1 shot asserted over the last to post a length-and-a-half success over Without Exception.

“The horses are flying and we’re delighted with it,” said Griffin. “Any time he has dropped back to a 100 or below he has won, that’s his level. He’s only a small horse, but he has the heart of a lion. If he was a couple of inches bigger, he’d be a champion because he gives his best every time.”