HAVING ridden out his claim at Roscommon earlier in the week, Aidan Kelly landed a big winner at Kilbeggan when partnering Solitary Man to a 14/1 victory in the featured Kilmurray Group Midlands National Handicap Chase.

Trained by Enda Bolger for Mrs Paul Shanahan, Mrs M.V. Magnier, Mrs Justin Carthy and Mrs Ronnie Bartlett, the eight-year-old gradually improved from mid-division to lead before the last in the three mile-one furlong highlight.

Ridden out by Kelly, he defeated the J.P. McManus-owned Perceval Legallois by two and a half lengths with another in the ‘green and gold’, Pride Of Place, in third and last year’s winner Amirite having to settle for fourth on this occasion.

“Enda rang me the other morning before decs and asked me if I had a ride in the race, and I jumped at it,” said Kelly, who rode a Cheltenham festival winner on Iroko in 2023.

“I rode him that afternoon and he gave me a great old feel. It’s my first day as a professional and it couldn’t have gone any better. Hopefully I can stay injury-free. That will be the main thing for the year.”

Dream come true

On his first ever ride at Kilbeggan, Harry Cobden landed the Writech Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles on Paul’s Dream (9/2).

The progressive daughter of Mahler, owned by the Shoot A Hoop Syndicate, was stepping back up in trip after winning at Ballinrobe on her previous outing. Cobden let her stride on in front after jumping the first and she got into a good rhythm to score by 10 lengths from Gameball.

“I didn’t really give Harry any instructions, only to ride her the way Danny (son) rode her the last day (held up),” said winning trainer Tony Mullins.

“He jumped out and made all! He decided to do that and she won well. We’re thinking of the mares’ hurdle at Galway. We’ll see what she gets, and if she has any chance of getting into the Galway Hurdle.”

Making all

Trained by Wille Mullins for Luke McMahon, Luciole Des Bordes justified 6/5 favouritism when making all in the BETXS Mares Maiden Hurdle over two miles. Paul Townend’s mount was pursued from the second-last by Brave Lady and saw off that one’s challenge by a length and a half.

“I was shocked at the first couple of hurdles (jumped awkwardly), but I couldn’t ride her at them or I would have ended up inside in town!”, said Townend. “I think she is learning on the job and, for a mare that is so hard on herself, she finds plenty.”

TRAINED by Eoin Doyle for his wife Gemma Murphy, Imarajan (7/2) led close home to land the spoils in a dramatic finish to the Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Maiden Hurdle over just short of two miles, three furlongs.

Chantilly Wings jumped into the lead over the last but his rider Carl Millar was struggling with a slipped saddle and was almost unseated in the final strides as Imarajan swept past him to score by half a length.

“He wants every yard of that trip and he’ll be a way better horse going up to two and a half miles,” said winning rider Paddy Cody who picked up a three-day whip ban. “He was going as quick as he could all the way.”

Chasing breakthrough

A four-time winner over hurdles, Charlie Luciano (4/1) got off the mark over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase over three miles and a furlong.

Trained by Noel Meade for Francis Carragher, the Bobby’s Kitten gelding was sent to the front going to the last and stayed on strongly to post a nine-length success over Scalpnagoon.

“I was delighted we were going slow, because obviously he had flat form and I thought he’d surely beat them in a sprint,” said jockey Conor Stone-Walsh.

A WINNER at Down Royal last Christmas, Boston Bobby (12/1) bounced back to form to land the Larrigy’s Pub Handicap Hurdle just short of two miles, three furlongs.

With what would usually be the final flight omitted due to the low sun, the winner got into contention after all the jumping had been completed and led a furlong out under Tiernan Power Roche to beat Bowgate Street by a length and a half.

“That’s fantastic. Tadhg Moynihan is a really good owner. He’s a Wicklow man,” said winning trainer Philip Rothwell. “I gave him this lad last year and he’s won two for him now, so I’m delighted.

“Some of Tadhg’s family are here this evening representing him because he has a pub in England and also in Madeira, so he’d be caught over there.”

Comfortable success

The New Forest Estate & Golf Club Handicap Hurdle over three miles and a furlong resulted in a comfortable victory for Knocknagoran Lady (9/2 co-favourite).

A winner under Dan King at Limerick on her previous start, Noel Flanagan’s seven-year-old tracked the leaders under the same rider and hit the front travelling well on the long run from what was the final flight jumped (usual two out).

The daughter of Lauro went clear under hands and heels to beat another co-favourite Thewaybackhome by four and a quarter lengths.

“She came out of the race at Limerick great,” said winning trainer Cian Hughes. “It was a different track but she did it well. Dan knows her well and you just have to leg him up.”