THE Irish Stallion Farms EBF Pat Walsh Memorial Mares Hurdle saw another easy win for Gino Bella (11/4) who came home four and a half lengths to the good.

Patrick Foley, whose dad Tom was closely associated with the track, trains the mare for Mrs Rose Byrne.

Alan O’Sullivan, winning for the third time this summer on the mare, had the six-year-old in the front rank of the seven runners and she was in no danger from the second last, beating Daboya and Speisialta. The 5/4 favourite Royal Hollow could only finish fifth of the six and was reported lame.

“That was very good. The weight was a big help, off 10st 2lb,” (O’Sullivan’s 5lb claim) said Foley afterwards.

“We had her in the listed race tomorrow but she would have been completely out of it on ratings so it was an easy decision to come here today. Alan knows her well and gave her an ideal ride.

“She looked to have them off the bridle from a long way out. She’ll get a break now and all being well she’ll come back for the mares’ handicap hurdle at the DRF”

Gillane keeps up gallop

The winning runs of horses racing prominently continued in the two and a half mile 1xBet.ie Supports Safer Gambling Maiden Hurdle. Keith Donoghue partnered Gillane (3/1) to make all and record a six-length success for Gavin Cromwell and owner Thomas Mitchell.

Third and fifth in two previous hurdle runs at Gowan, the Shirocco gelding was making his seasonal debut having last been seen when winning a Bellewstown bumper in April.

“A welcome winner. He was good, it was very straightforward,” said Gavin Cromwell. “He hit the line well. He’s one to look forward to for the rest of the season.”

Sarahs Lawn brings the celebrations

THE most valuable race on the card was the concluding Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mucklemeg Mares INH Flat Race went to the favourite in the Declan Queally-trained Sarahs Lawn (9/4) who held off the Willie Mullins runner Long’way by three lengths with 50/1 shot Missouri Snow back in third.

The winner was well-backed and rewarded the For The Love Of It Syndicate with on track celebrations.

“I said I’d chance the oul Frankie Dettori off a small one! I might never get to do it again,” said Queally after a flying dismount.

“It’s brilliant, they are all local lads. I was going getting a couple of bags of feed this morning and passed the local pub and they were all outside it at 10.30am! I said ‘at least they won’t be able to remember the race if I give it a bad ride’. Benny Walsh recommended her so highly to me and I’m delighted for him.”

Tough customer

There were at least eight horses in with a chance coming to the second last in the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle (Div I) over two and a half miles but At The Wings (7/2) proved a tough customer for Shane O’Callaghan, staying on resolutely to hold Tudorista by a neck.

Norman Lee’s charge was adding to his Navan win last month for the Stones & Homes Syndicate.

Callaghan said: “He went to the front and parked the bus himself, he pricked his ears and jumped away and when they came to him, he quickened.

Lee’s partner Alice Gordon added afterwards: “Norman is in hospital after a fall but he’ll be okay. It’s great for the yard to get that winner.”

Duck delivers

The ground was getting softer by the time of the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle (Div II) and the two and a half-mile trip looked tougher going. There were seven non-runners. It was The Ducks Walk and Richard Condon, out the back early, who came to take it up at the second last. The winner was slow over the last flight and, though the second reduced the advantage, The Ducks Walk went away for a three-length success for the Dooly family.

Trainer Noel Dooly said: “The last day everything went wrong. I fancied him today and he put it right.Richie said he thought he was in for a bit of a bollocking down the back as I had said to him ‘don’t be any worse than mid-division as they are all winning from the front’.

“They probably went quick enough in front. He actually probably jumps a fence better than hurdles but we had him handicapped and ready to go.”

Lucy Wang made most of the running in the two and a half-mile Paddy Monaghan 90th Birthday Handicap Hurdle but she was joined by Nelson Muntz at the second last.

The two had it between them and it was the Harry Kelly-trained Nelson Muntz who kept on the best for owner Niall Kennelly to win by a length and a half. The winner was making a quick return after finishing fourth the day before.

“Things just didn’t go to plan in Clonmel yesterday,” said Kelly. “He missed the first and was locked in in a bit of trouble. He ate and he drank last night and he was full of beans in the paddock this morning so we said we’d chance it.

“I’m delighted for the owner, Niall Kennelly. He’s a big supporter of mine through thick and thin. We fancied him today and it’s nice that it worked out.”

IVATT (3/1) ran out an impressive winner of the Willis Towers Watson Maiden Hurdle over two miles and a half.

Trained by Gordon Elliott for Jim and Fitri Hay, the four-year-old son of Ghaiyyath wore a first time hood and lead early under Jack Kennedy before they opened up a clear lead after two out, to go on and win easily by a margin of 24 lengths.

The well-backed favourite Bunker Buster (evens) unseated Philip Byrnes at the first flight.

“He’s a nice horse. It’s our first horse for Jim and Fitri Hay and they are nice colours to have in the yard,” said Elliott. “We’ll probably go back on the flat with him, as well.

“I’d say he improved a lot from the last day. It was a good performance today and I liked the way he quickened.

“It mightn’t have been the best race in the world but Jessie’s horse is still rated 123. He’s more of a spring horse.”

Bromhead battle

Henry de Bromhead would have been satisfied with the finish of the Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland Maiden Hurdle over two miles and half a furlong as he trained the one-two.

The Elliott runner Detroit Maverick made most of the running and took the second last with the eventual winner The Captain’s Word alongside.

The Captain’s Word (10/11) took it up after the second last and looked to be going best, racing about three lengths clear but 16/1 shot Lirakali and Jordan Gainford got a great run up the rails after the last to put his head in front. On the line, Darragh O’Keeffe just got the nod on the favourite, owned by the Edward Walsh, Tadhg O’Sullivan, Lord Waterford and Richard Ames partnership. The winner did hang in and bump the runner-up but the stewards took no action.

O’Keeffe said: “It was a nice performance; he showed a good attitude from the last to the line to get back up. I thought initially Jordan had got up but my fella did well to gather himself again.”

The going was changed from Good To Yielding to Good after this race.