PAUL Townend bagged a quick double for Willie Mullins at Kilbeggan last Friday night when claiming the first two races on the card.
Love Me Tender was sent to post a 30/100 shot in the opening Tote Maiden Hurdle and won as his price suggested.
The Doctor Dino gelding made all in the two-mile-two heat and quickened clear before the last to post an easy 18-length success in the colours of Jackie Mullins.
“He won well. The price said he should, but it doesn’t always work out, I’ve got beaten on a lot of shorter ones than him!” said Townend afterwards.
“He loves jumping, he over-jumped one down the back, but he was looking for the next hurdle and taking it on well. It was a nice performance.”
The well-bred Dysart Dasher, a half-brother to Dysart Dynamo, also made every post a winning one when claiming the following Tom McCormack Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
The 5/2 shot was asked for an effort before the final flight and, despite a mistake there, he still stayed on strongly to record a three-length success over Time In A Bottle.
Family trait
When it was put to him that he wasn’t the simplest of rides, Townend said: “It’s a family trait. They are talented and quirky.
“He was more manageable today. He got left alone a little bit which helped.
“With the benefit of getting a couple of runs together, I think he can improve again. He’s mentally still immature.
“It’s a great family and it’s great for Eleanor and Shane (Manning) to have another one.”
In the three-mile maiden hurdle on the card, Midnight Moonshine was another family winner for the Harveys.
The 4/1 shot was driven into the lead before the last by Ben Harvey, as he scored by five lengths for his father William, in the colours of his mother Niamh.
Confident
“We were confident up in trip today, coming here he had a good chance. Dad’s horses are in great nick and Mam owns this guy, so it’s great,” said the winning rider.
“He’s a lovely horse. We haven’t done a whole lot with him at home, we haven’t really dipped him, because he was fit when we got him.
“Off the back of that, he looks like he has a nice mark over fences. We’ll have a look at the programme and see where we go, we have options.”
AIDAN Kelly reduced his claim to 3lb after riding his 50th winner aboard Sprinkles in the first division of the 0-100 handicap hurdle.
The Padraig Roche-trained 8/1 shot led over the last and went on to post a two-and-three-quarter-length win.
“That’s great. She’s a filly that J.P. (McManus) leases to us and I got a good bunch of my friends (Sprinkles Syndicate) into her,” said Roche.
“She was kind of weak and as a three-year-old we thought she needed time. The lads were patient and she’s only really coming into her own now. It’s great to get a winner for them.”
Late run
In the second division of the race, Thats All rattled home late on to deny Demanding Gerry.
Cian Quirke conjured a strong surge from Tim Doyle’s mare on the run-in to get up for a length-and-a-half success at odds of 11/1.
“That’s 27 runs before she won, so that’s all I can tell you. She’s coming on though and her jumping is getting better,” said Doyle.
“She’s always honest and we got her wind done, so that’s probably helping a little bit. He timed it well and gave her a great ride.”
Opened account
Ballykinlar was another opening his account when landing the ‘110’ handicap hurdle for Donncha Duggan.
Eoin Staples’ mount travelled strongly into contention after the second last and the 5/1 joint-favourite hit the front after the final flight to post a three-length win over long-time leader Faceman.
“He was a bit unlucky on his last visit here to meet a horse that was well handicapped,” said Duggan.
“The horse that won the previous race (Thats All) was a few lengths in front of him last time in Cork, so the form is holding up.
“I told Eoin to hold on to him, because he didn’t get home the last day here. He gave him a good ride.”
A WAVE Of The Sea bounced back to winning ways in good style when claiming the Egan Stone Handicap Chase for trainer Shane Broderick.
Mark Walsh produced the well-backed 7/2 joint-favourite to lead on the run-in and he scooted clear late on to score by eight and a half lengths for owner J.P. McManus.
Broderick said: “He won well there and he’s a good horse. It’s great to get him to train. Mark was very good on him.
“You always have a chance when you have a good owner like that.”
Racing manager Frank Berry added: “The few coming out was a help as well. If we could find another little one like that, it would be great.
“It was nice to see him win a race because he hasn’t won for a while and we’re delighted to have a winner for Shane as well.”
Fine round
In the other chase on the card, Doyen Magic produced a fine round of jumping to score on her first outing over the larger obstacles.
Philip Rothwell’s charge made most for Tiernan Power Roche and the 18/1 shot picked up well when pressed going to the last, recording a four-and-three-quarter length win over Zolpharine.
“It’s a new syndicate to the yard. I met the guys (Curb Your Enthusiasm Syndicate) a year ago and they are leasing the mare off me. They are a really nice bunch of people, so it’s lovely to get their first winner for them,” said Rothwell.
“I saw the mare running in Wexford last year and I really liked her. I spotted her in a broodmare sale in Doncaster in January and bought her for £2,000.
“We took a chance, as she had some problems in the past but she’s only a baby mare and I’m delighted to have her.”