GALWAY Plate winner Western Fold made light of the step up in class to easily land the featured Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase under Danny Gilligan.
Leading in the initial stages, the 5/6f was headed at halfway, before regaining the initiative from four out. The Weld-Spec (Glasgow) Ltd and Dee L’Estrange-owned six-year-old asserted jumping the last, keeping on well to beat Affordale Fury by four and a quarter lengths.
Trainer Gordon Elliott said: “He is a good horse, was rated 157 today and is still a novice for the year.
“He could head to Down Royal for the Champion Chase or we could keep him for the Drinmore (novice). He didn’t win until Tipperary in May, so is a novice for the whole season, and I don’t know if there are as many novices with the experience that he has.”
Gordon Elliott completed a double on the card when the Jack Kennedy-partnered Boston Rover (6/4f) kept on best to win the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series Handicap Chase. Pushed along to lead between the final two fences, he stayed on well to beat Ballybawn Belter by three and a half lengths.
Elliott said: “He is a nice horse, is going the right way and we are learning about him the whole time. When he gets to the front, he just does what he has to do. Jack said he won snugly at the line and I’d say he will handle softer ground.
“Derek (Barry, owner) is from Straffan and trained but said he got to the stage where he couldn’t get staff. He sent us down a couple of horses and is a big supporter of the yard, so it is great to see him get winners.”
DARRAGH O’Keeffe completed a double as Taponthego made a winning start over fences in the concluding S.I.S. Supporting Irish Racing Beginners Chase. The well-backed 11/8f headed Fleur In The Park between the final two fences and drew away to win by six and a half lengths.
Trainer Henry De Bromhead said: “We always hoped he would be a good chaser and he jumped really well today. He looks a good one and you’d hope he will stay further, but we’ll see what’s coming up. He will come on plenty for the run.
“Colin Motherway recommended him and in fairness he really pushed me to buy him, so all credit to him. I’m delighted for the lads (Both Sides Of The Water Syndicate), who have been great supporters of ours over the years and we’ve had plenty of fun together.”
Patience pays off
Earlier on the card, the John Flavin-trained Ag Obair Go Crua justified good market confidence when keeping on strongly under O’Keeffe to win Division II of the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle. Fitted with first-time cheekpieces, the 4/1 chance (from 12/1) led after three out, keeping on well to score by a length and a half.
Flavin said: “He was the runner I really fancied today as my others probably needed their runs. Darragh being on board is worth an extra stone and he is an unbelievable rider.
“The main man David Whittey in the (Tus Maith) syndicate is from Waterford and he got a few of his friends together. The horse hadn’t been straightforward so the lads had to be patient, but thankfully it has all worked out.”
Sweet success
Jerisk Star made a winning handicap debut in Division I of the Gowran’s Racing TV Handicap Hurdle for Liz Doyle and Richie Deegan. The 94-rated gelding made all the running and held on well to beat Aclass by one and three-quarter lengths.
Doyle said: “Jerisk Star has had horrendous palate issues and he literally couldn’t breathe. A huge thank you to vet Hugh Dillon at the Curragh. I might go chasing with him pretty soon but we’ll see.
“It is just satisfying to get today out of the way for the work and effort you put into them. It is a family-owned horse and are the colours of my late dad, before my mother (retired M.E.P. Avril Doyle) took them over, so it is a nice day.”
CUSTOM Taylor made most to win the Jack Duggan Memorial Handicap Hurdle for Declan Queally and Michael Kenneally. In front after the second flight, the Dr Brid Corkery and Mrs Mary O’Connor-owned 7/4f went clear from two out to beat Duty Bound by nine and a half lengths.
Declan Queally Junior reported: “Rocky’s Diamond won this race for us last year although I’m not sure Custom Taylor is as good. When he goes home to Mary and John O’Connor every summer, he comes back in looking great.
“He is easy to train and won fairly easily today, although I suppose he’ll get a good belt in the handicap. I’m delighted with him and he might make a nice novice chaser next year.”
Smart sort
The William Harvey-trained Daydream Nation (9/4) put up an impressive performance on his rules debut when making virtually all in the Joe Bollard Memorial Maiden Hurdle. Headed briefly going out on the final circuit, he was soon back in control under Ben Harvey and was pushed along to assert after two out, before powering clear to a 16-length victory.
Ben Harvey said: “We really liked him and with the race cutting up since declarations, we were confident. He was impressive in his point-to-point for Colin Bowe and Rory Breen, who is now involved in him, and picked him out.
“There are a good group involved, including my mam. We’ll see what the programme says although he wants nice ground and has the option of running in the UK.”
Perfect start
Bibe Mus (11/4) registered a first win in this country when staying on best under J.J. Slevin in the William Hill Each Way Extra Challenge Series 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle. The €125,000 French recruit was always front rank and led after the last, keeping on well to win by half a length.
Trainer Ross O’Sullivan said: “He had done a good bit of schooling with J.J. in the last few weeks, which he liked, and J.J. was very sweet on him. It makes sense to go for the winners’ race in Down Royal in three weeks next. “It is great to get a winner for Simon and Isaac (Munir and Souede, owners) and it is my first horse for them.”