AFTER the surprise win of Grann’s Boy on Sunday’s card, Harry Rogers and Darragh O’Keeffe again successfully combined with Lord Erskine (22/1 from 40s) in the feature at this rescheduled fixture, the RYBO Handicap Hurdle.

Registering a 12th career triumph, to match his age, the James Nolan-owned bay was never far from the pace in this listed heat and sat in third at halfway.

By far the oldest runner in the line-up, he improved into a share of the lead before two out and while not fluent over the final flight, he ultimately outstayed Helvic Dream on the run-in, with half a length between them at the line.

“Miracles do happen, but they don’t usually happen in Fairyhouse for me!” Rogers reflected.

“He eats, sleeps and runs, that is all he does. He doesn’t see any vets, nothing. He’s a dream and a great horse to have. Darragh was very good on him and he might end up in Punchestown, we’ll see.”

Big performance

Punchestown is also on the cards for David Christie’s Big Interest (10/3), after his facile success in the opening Race Displays Joseph O’Reilly Hunters Chase.

It didn’t come without some late scares though and after a mistake three out, Barry O’Neill briefly lost his right iron after the next.

Recovering quickly, the pair sailed over the last and were 18 lengths clear of Hollow Games at the line.

Sent off the 5/6 favourite, Ryehill never travelled and jumped left from flag fall, eventually pulling up before seven out.

“That was a lovely one, the jumping was the winning of it. He was making ground at nearly every fence there and he has a huge stride,” Christie said of the Ray Nicholas-owned six-year-old.

“You can see he’s huge and he has just gone through a weak spell and a learning spell.

“Sometimes you just have to harden a horse up for a year before they become the real thing. If he comes out of this okay, we will probably head to Punchestown.”

A FIRST double for Philip Donovan was highlighted by the last gasp success of Kiltealy Park in the Listed BoyleSports Mares Handicap Chase. Teaming up with Paul Nolan for the first time, the Co Offaly pilot gave his mount a patient ride, making steady headway from five out.

Owned by the Browne Bros Partnership and in first time blinkers, the Walk In The Park six-year-old improved into a share of the lead early in the straight.

Ridden after a slight peck on landing at the back of the last, she was soon engaged in a tussle with True Testimony and while she appeared to be coming off second best approaching the line, a late lunge saw the 7/1 chance prevail by a short-head.

“When they are that close, you hate to tell yourself that you are up, but I was quietly confident,” Donovan revealed. “It was a good old ding-dong up to the line and I’m fairly happy I came out the right side of it.”

Locked and loaded

Donovan later doubled his tally on Locked Box, with this one landing a gamble in the Tom Quinlan Electrical Maiden Hurdle. Backed from 12s to 4s, the Cormac Farrell-trained six-year-old made all and jumped well throughout.

Carrying the colours of Douglas Taylor, he was ridden approaching the second last and found plenty for pressure, eventually coming home three and a quarter lengths clear of Letos.

“I ride him in most of his work and I’d have been a bit disappointed if he didn’t do that, but they can show you all they want in the mornings, they have to come to the track and do it,” Donovan remarked.

THERE was an exciting conclusion to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final, with Custom Taylor (18/1) just getting the better of front-runner Andy Amo.

In truth, the pair dominated from flag fall in this 18-runner contest, with the Declan Queally-trained victor racing in second under Kevin Sexton.

Owned by Dr Brid Corkery, the chesnut victor improved into a share of the lead before the final flight and while he blundered there, he battled back gamely on the run-in and was half a length clear at the line.

“He’s a grand horse, he’s kind of progressed with racing,” Queally explained. “He could turn into a nice three-mile chaser down the road, you wouldn’t know where he’ll end up.”

Ladies National

Partnering her second winner in as many days, Maxine O’Sullivan took the Fairyhouse Ladies National Handicap Chase on Read To Return (15/2).

Benefitting from a patient ride, the Tony Martin-trained eight-year-old blundered three out and was left in a share of the lead when Secrecies Of Stone unseated at the next.

Slightly hampered at that obstacle, the Spectacular Seven Syndicate-owned victor gained an outright advantage before the last and stretched clear on the run-in to beat Vaureal (10/3 favourite) by four-lengths.

“Maxine has been with me for years. She is a great rider and gave him a great ride,” Martin enthused. “He has had a few little issues and, on his day when things go right for him, he’s not too bad. Fortunately enough, everything went right for him today.”

The Colm Murphy-trained Zanoosh (10/1 from 20s) also came from off the pace, as she took the concluding Hire2K Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race in the colours of the Winning Ways Reunion Syndicate.

A solid fourth on her debut over flights in January, the Jimmy O’Rourke-ridden bay made good progress on the approach to the straight.

While briefly short of room from the two-furlong pole, she soon got the desired gap and ultimately outstayed 5/2 favourite Hello Jean in the closing stages, with two lengths between them at the line.

“She had a very good run here in January, she was kind of an eye-catcher that day. She’s matured a lot and could be a nice filly,” Murphy disclosed.

“We’ll go baby steps with her, but there’s a chance she might go to Punchestown for the bumper there and I’d imagine she’ll go hurdling next season.”