AFTER a treble at the previous meeting, local trainer Ciaran Murphy notched a double at his local track this time which was initiated by Puppet Master (5/1) in the Curragh To Curragh Charity Cycle On 29th August Maiden Hurdle over two miles.

Winner of last year’s Lingfield Derby Trial for Aidan O’Brien, the Jodmart Construction-owned Camelot gelding passed Kimi Mai after the latter made a mistake at the last and was ridden out by Eoghan Finegan to score by half a length.

“He’s a horse that we gave a good few quid for (£78,000) in the autumn and he wasn’t really working out, we had a few issues with him along the way,” said Murphy.

“He was well dropped in class today. He’ll mix it away, he was bought to be a dual-purpose horse.”

Doubling up

Murphy’s second winner was Hill Silver who justified 6/5 favouritism with a hard-fought success in the John Thomas McNamara Series Flat Race over two miles.

Paul Clarke’s Hillstar four-year-old drew clear with Bellahill in the final quarter-mile and, despite running green under Dara McGill, gained the upper hand close home to score by a neck.

“All winter this fella has been showing the right signs. We thought he ran a cracker in a very hot bumper at Galway,” said Murphy. “I’d say he’s a horse for better ground and he could be exciting for the spring.”

Extending records

Ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, La Cote Fleurie (10/3) made it three wins from four starts in the Bretland Construction Novice Hurdle over two miles, three furlongs.

The daughter of Walzertakt led between the final two flights and stayed on well to account for Mino Des Mottes by a length and a half.

Robbie Power, representing winning trainer Henry de Bromhead, said: “I thought there was plenty of depth to the race. They went a proper gallop all the way, she settled in well and jumped super.

“I’m delighted for Nicola (Coppez – sister of owner Peter Fitzgerald) and everyone involved.”

Danny Gilligan was suspended for eight days for not affording third-placed Rosie’s Wings enough time to respond to his use of the ProCush.

TRAINED by Gordon Elliott for the An Mhi Rioga Syndicate, Dad Sez (4/6 favourite) outclassed his rivals in the Peadar’s Bar Moate Maiden Hurdle over three miles, one furlong.

Jack Kennedy’s mount bounded clear between the final two flights to beat Go To The Moon by 17 lengths.

“He’s just so big, and you can see why he didn’t run until now,” said Elliott of the Flemensfirth six-year-old.

“He had a real good run in Galway first time out. He’s a big staying chaser down the road and is for sale.”

Smithers brothers on a roll

The Smithers brothers have been on a roll lately and after Conor rode his fourth winner of the month at Sligo two days earlier, 5lb claimer Peter matched that monthly total when guiding Bhean Saibhre (12/1) to victory in the Tom Lynam Memorial Handicap Hurdle over two miles, three furlongs.

The jockey went for a run down the inner approaching the home bend, only for Cloonainra to move across and cause him to check the Bap Syndicate’s mare.

Despite this, the five-year-old had enough in the tank to capitalise when the gap reopened and she stayed on well to beat Cloonainra by a length and three-quarters.

The runner-up’s rider Shane Fitzsimons was suspended for four days for careless riding and, in addition, picked up a five-day ban for his use of the ProCush.

“She likes these little tight tracks, and a nice bit of good to yielding ground,” said winning trainer Aidan Howard.

“She got hampered between the second-last and last, and I thought we had lost our chance, but she obviously has a big heart.”

FOR a long time, Fr Gilligansvoyge was the first horse to put a line through when trying to find the answer to a low-grade handicap chase but, at the age of 13, the son of Yeats has become a winning machine and struck for the third time in his last five starts in the New Forest Estate & Golf Club Handicap Chase over three miles, two furlongs.

Jockey Eoghan Finegan, completing a personal double on the evening, was looking around for dangers on the approach to the last and none were to be seen as his mount went on to readily account for Gorthill by two and a half lengths.

“I thought it was a bit quick for him, after running at Tramore last week, but we brought him to the strand at Laytown on Wednesday and he absolutely flew up it, so we said we’d take our chance again,” said John Carr, who trains the veteran for Richard Farrell. “We’ll keep him going as long as he’s in good form.”

The J.P. McManus-owned A Wave Of The Sea (9/1) comes alive at Kilbeggan and coasted to victory in the Belvedere House & Gardens Handicap Chase over three miles, two furlongs.

Recording his fourth win at the track, the Shane Broderick-trained gelding cruised into the lead after the second-last and jockey Charlie O’Dwyer never had to move on him as he drew 12 lengths clear of Charlie Luciano.

“I’d say the bit of juice in the ground tonight was a big help to him, he really enjoyed it and jumped well,” said racing manager Frank Berry

“Shane does a great job with him, freshens him up, and he’ll probably be back here again next season.”