OL Man Dingle (7/4 joint-favourite) looks an exciting chasing prospect for Eoin Griffin after making a winning debut over fences in the Race In Pink Raceday on October 26th Beginners Chase.

Ricky Doyle’s mount raced prominently and got the better of fellow joint-favourite Will The Wise in the closing stages to score by half a length.

Griffin, who trains the six-year-old for the Dunglen Racing Syndicate, said: “I’m delighted with him and, to be honest, he will improve for the run, so we’d have been happy with a respectable performance coming here.

“He did very well for us over hurdles up until last Christmas but, even though he ran well, I was a little bit disappointed with his fourth at the Dublin Racing Festival. Then he had a disappointing run at Navan, but we found a little thing wrong with him.

“He seems over that little hiccup and we can look forward to a nice novice chase campaign with him. I think two and a half miles is his trip. To have a horse to start thinking about running in good races is a real bonus for a trainer like me.”

Too easy

The Tote Always SP Or Better At Galway Maiden Hurdle was a weak affair and Welonlyhavedone (1/4 favourite) had no difficulty in making a winning start over flights.

A point-to-point winner at Liscarroll in March for Robert Clancy, Jimmy Fyffe’s gelding made most of the running under Keith Donoghue and went on after the second last to beat Survivors Sister by an easy 12 lengths.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell said: “I fancied him to run well here in a bumper at the festival, but he disappointed. He did it well today but it wasn’t much of a race, so we won’t be getting excited yet. He is a grand horse though and we will look for a rated novice now.”

Late lunge

The 11/4 favourite Torquay Road must have hit much bigger prices in-running before getting up close home under Eoin Staples to land the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Handicap Hurdle.

A winner at Sligo on his previous outing, the No Risk At All gelding looked held in third after getting under the final flight but really knuckled down up the hill and surged between horses to beat Harpy Eagle by half a length.

Trainer Cian Collins said of the Kevin McConnell-owned winner: “He got in close to the last two hurdles which didn’t help him as he was tight for room, but it was a great ride by Eoin.

“I think he just began with a high rating at the start so it took him a while to find his feet, but he’s really getting the hang of the jumping now.”

PAUL Collins (7/1) recorded a first win when landing the Ryans Cleaning Novice Handicap Hurdle under J.J. Slevin.

Ridden in fifth entering the straight, the five-year-old stayed on well to get up for a neck success over Imperial Miss.

Trainer Brian McMahon said: “He ran well here at the festival over a shorter trip when he stayed on great and, in fairness to Sean O’Keeffe, who rode him then, he said to step him up half a mile and he was spot on.

“It was my fault to run him in his first handicap chase at Listowel the last day, which was too much of an ask.

“He came out of a ThoroughBid Sale and wasn’t overly dear (£14,000), so we’re delighted with him.

“Owen O’Connor and Martin Baker own him. Martin owns the local Burren Inn in Tubber, which I probably have shares in myself at this stage!”

Dangerous opponent

Habitual front-runner Kilashee (13/8 favourite) is always a dangerous opponent when getting loose on the lead and she kept up the gallop to easily win the Guinness Mares Handicap Hurdle at Galway.

Soon clear under rising star Michael Kenneally, she came home 11 lengths ahead of Grace Faraday.

Owner/trainer John Ryan said: “She is a great mare, but we had problems with her earlier in the year when we couldn’t get her right. She seemed to bounce back with her run at Roscommon though.

Regarding a recent setback, Ryan added: “I had sepsis recently but got over it, thank God. It is not a nice thing to get, but I’m a hardy oul’ lad!”

RIDDEN by Simon Torrens and carrying the colours of J.P. McManus, Inthenickoftime was a facile winner (85/40 favourite) of the Mongey Communications Handicap Chase at Galway.

The grey son of Gleneagles travelled well behind the leaders and led after the last before coasting home to beat Vaureal by five and a half lengths.

Winning trainer Enda Bolger said: “Finding the right trip for him was the problem. Two miles was too short and three was too far, but this race (over two and a quarter miles) popped up and he was in good form. He is a nice horse for next summer.”

Hot form

Trainer Andy Slattery kept up his great run with bumper horses when Mullaghgloss (5/2) landed Galway’s Student Raceday On October 27th Flat Race under Adam Ryan.

The Walk In The Park four-year-old, owned by the Punchestown Friends Syndicate, stuck to his task well on the far rail in the straight as several of his rivals came towards the stands’ side and led inside the final furlong to beat market leader Zeus Power by a length and a quarter.

Andy Slattery’s brother Willie saddled the winner and said: “The jockey probably made the difference. Adam said beforehand that he felt the others would probably come wide, so he had his homework done.

“He will go jumping hurdles now. That’s our eighth individual bumper winner from 10 or 11 runners this year - they are just nice horses.”