TRAINER Peter Fahey, conditional jockey Ethan O’Sullivan and amateur rider Billy Coonan all had a day to remember at Fairyhouse on Tuesday.

Fahey led the way with his first treble, sharing two of his winners with O’Sullivan, who was recording the first double of his career.

They were off the mark with Bethpage Theatre (40/1), who battled well to land the GavinLynchRacing.com Mares Maiden Hurdle. The Festival Dreamers Syndicate-owned five-year-old got the better of Rebel Reba from the final hurdle to win by a length and a half.

“She’s been a little bit frustrating; things have been going wrong with her the whole way through. She ran off the bend with Sam (Ewing) the last day in Punchestown,” said Fahey.

“She’s in the [ITBA Mares’ Bonus] scheme and she gets the bonus. It’s great for Tom Keane, he gets a lot of lads into bits and pieces of ownership in the yard so I’m delighted for him. His mam took a tumble yesterday and he didn’t get to make it today. Hopefully she’s recovering.”

Back-to-back wins

Fahey and O’Sullivan followed up with Live To Laugh in the William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle. The 5/2 favourite backed up his recent Punchestown success when asserting from the second-last hurdle to beat Well Bud by three and three-parts of a length.

The late Anthony Callan was a member of the winning partnership that is made up of Jimmy Whittle, Michael McEvoy and the Good For A Laugh Syndicate. Fahey explained: “Anthony Callan, who is a brother-in-law of mine, actually passed away since Punchestown so we’re all thinking of him and his family today.

“Live To Laugh seems to be improving this year. Early on in his career I thought he wasn’t the strongest of finishers. This William Hill Series is great and to get another win in it is great.”

Unbelievable day

The trainer’s treble was wrapped up when Tuckmill won the John Thomas McNamara Series Qualified Riders Handicap Hurdle. The 10-year-old defied a 10lb hike in the ratings for his success at Punchestown last month when leading between the final two hurdles under Ronan McParland, in the silks of his granduncle and owner/breeder, Tom McParland. At the line, the 5/1 shot had one and a quarter lengths to spare over the fast-finishing Hidalgo Des Mottes.

“It’s been an unbelievable day. It’s my first treble, we’ve had a couple of doubles before and been close to trebles,” said Fahey.

“Thanks to everyone in the yard, they all work hard at home. We’ve had a complete change around in staff in the last few months and it’s all working out. I’m delighted with the way things are going at the moment.

“It’s great for the McParlands and for Ronan, he gave him a great ride.”

MAYNOOTH amateur Billy Coonan matched O’Sullivan’s feat, with two late winners also giving him his first double. His first success came on the seven-year-old Revolut Ned who landed the Michael O’Sullivan & Lorna Brooke Ireland V Britain Qualified Riders Challenge Handicap Chase.

Owned and trained by Willie Murphy, the 5/1 chance was left a couple of lengths clear at the final fence when the front-running Heroes Of Renown got it badly wrong and unseated Toni Quail (who was unhurt) when holding the narrowest of advantages. Revolut Ned went on to score by four and three-parts of a length from Urbs Intacta Manet.

“He’s a grand horse. He had a great run the last day in Punchestown,” said Murphy.

“He suffers with his wind a small bit. Billy gave him a great ride today and took his time. He jumped like a buck.

“It’s a shame not to support these races. He probably wouldn’t have been here only I saw there was a small entry. It’s nice to support them with the English riders coming over.”

Coonan followed up in the concluding point-to-point flat race on 10/11 favourite Heron Hill. A point-to-point winner for Colin Bowe at Monksgrange in March, the four-year-old was having his first start for Gavin Cromwell and he quickened well in John Brennan’s colours from over a furlong out to beat The Supersonic Kid by four lengths.

“It was a very messy race, obviously, and he’s green. It took a bit of time for the penny to drop but he picked up well,” said Cromwell. “You’d like the way he went to the line. He’s a nice horse.”

PAUL Townend landed a winner on his only ride of the afternoon as Storm Heart made an impressive start over fences in the Irish National Hunt CLG Beginners Chase.

Four horses held a chance on the run to the final fence and it the Willie Mullins-trained 9/4 chance who picked up best of all, heading Gordon Elliott’s 7/4 favourite Ballyfad, also owned by Gigginstown House Stud, on the flat to score in some style by three and a half lengths.

“That was nice. He had a good hurdles rating and I think he was the highest of them,” Townend said of the Grade 3-winning and Grade 1-placed hurdler.

“He had a little blow and filled himself up and got a second wind. He really kicked in jumping the last.”

Nice surprise

Ard Roisin scored a 40/1 success when making a winning debut in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle for Lorna Fowler and John Shinnick.

Bought by owner Steve Killalea as a foal for just €5,000, the now three-year-old led from the second hurdle and asserted from two out to beat Lakeshore by an easy nine and a half lengths.

“I wouldn’t say it was expected but we knew she had ability, without question,” Fowler later said.

“I haven’t trained her hard because she’s a three-year-old. Today was very much about the start and seeing where it went. I knew the ability was there but I didn’t think she’d do that; I’ll take it every day!”

Easy as you like

A far easier winner for punters to find was Hearts And Spades who extended his winning to four when easily taking the INHSC Supporting Point-To-Points Hunters Chase.

A mistake at the final fence took little out of the Ian McCarthy-trained 5/2 chance who romped to an 11-length success under Eoin McMahon, adding to three straight wins in point-to-points. In all, the Martin White-owned seven-year-old is a seven-time point-to-point winner.

McCarthy commented: “We’re delighted with him. It probably didn’t help Eoin as we took off the hood for the first time on the track and he was just in his hands a little bit. They didn’t go overly quick early.

“He couldn’t have been any more impressive and we’re very happy with him. We’ll aim him at Down Royal now.”