AFTER winning on the flat with stable stalwart Lady Arwen at Ballinrobe four days previously, Conor O’Dwyer hit the target with his next two runners when saddling a double at Kilbeggan on Friday.

Both horses were ridden by the trainer’s son Charlie for owner J.P. McManus and were having their second starts for O’Dwyer having moved to his yard following the retirement of Dessie McDonogh.

In For The Night (17/2) got the ball rolling the Tote Handicap Hurdle over two miles and three furlongs as he headed Magic Day on the run to the last to win by five and a half lengths.

The trainer commented: “I thought the ground might be a little quick, but all the lads said it was good and safe with a nice bit of juice in it. He’s really travelling sweetly and doing everything well; he’s a nice one to look forward to.”

Back in front

Sent off a 15/2 chance, Luimneach completed O’Dwyer’s brace when recording a first win in over three years in the 0-100 handicap chase over two and a half miles.

The Fame And Glory gelding challenged longtime leader My Cullen at the last, where both horses made mistakes, and found that bit extra on the run-in to score by half a length.

“His jumping normally lets him down, but he was very good today, except for missing the last a bit,” said the trainer.

“He tends to think about things when he gets to the front but stuck at it there and got the job done.”

PLACED in three of his 10 previous starts, Kasper Hauser made all under Calum Hogan in the Tote Maiden Hurdle, over two miles and three furlongs.

The 6/5 favourite, owned by Trevor Payne and the One In A Million Syndicate, put in a largely fluent round of jumping to beat Rosarian by three and three-quarter lengths.

“His experience helped against the four-year-olds,” said trainer and former jump jockey Kevin Coleman, who was saddling his first winner under National Hunt rules.

“I think the last time I was here was 2010. I got on a bit better today than I did then! It’s a different capacity this time.”

Off the mark

Placed for the first time in 26 career starts when third at Sligo in early July, Dream Shaper (11/1) built on that when slipping the field to easily land the first division of Massey Ferguson Johnston Farm Equipment Longford Handicap Hurdle over the two miles and three furlongs.

It was apparent on the long run between the final two flights that the Morpheus gelding, owned and trained by Iggy Madden, wouldn’t be caught and he passed the post with 11 lengths to spare over Barrogstown Girl.

“He ran well in Sligo but met a few traffic problems,” said jockey Paddy Cleary.

“Today, I was insistent on getting plenty of room on him. I let him roll away and he enjoyed that.”

Helpful headgear

O’Grady Cracker (14/1) ran out an easy winner in the second split of the Massey Ferguson Johnston Farm Equipment Longford Handicap Hurdle.

The four-year-old had been tailed off on handicap debut at Clonmel but it was a different story this time in a first-time visor. Prominent throughout over two miles and three furlongs, the winner went away from Thirsty Work between the final two flights to score by 12 lengths.

Andy Slattery trains the youngster for Kay Russell, and jockey J.J. Slevin sported the colours of his late breeder, Edward O’Grady, viz. navy with a pale blue sash and red cap.

“Good performance, and the first-time headgear obviously worked,” remarked the winning rider.

“Obviously Kay Russell is the partner of the late Mr. O’Grady. It’s a privilege to ride a winner in these colours. Mr. O’Grady is gone a year next Monday and, luckily, he is looking down on us.”

GOLDEN Temple (12/1) got up close home under Sam Ewing to land a first win over fences in the Egan Stone Kilbeggan Handicap Chase over two and a half miles.

The Spice Of Life Partnership’s six-year-old came through a narrow enough gap on the rail in the closing stages to touch off Rexem by a neck.

“He’s a nice little fun horse; a summer horse that wants fast ground,“ said winning trainer Noel Meade.

“Hopefully if he gets in at Galway, he’ll run. He might run over hurdles on Wednesday, or maybe a chase at the end of the week. I’d say it’s more likely he’ll run in a hurdle race (finished second on Wednesday).

Homebred

After a good run in a Limerick chase on his previous start in May, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Rusty Harkness (5/6 favourite) switched back to the smaller obstacles to win the Hurley Family Maiden Hurdle over three miles.

Darragh O’Keeffe’s mount went on three out and scored by four and a quarter lengths from Clone Cross.

Stable representative Robbie Power commented: “I’m delighted for Kenny Alexander (owner); he’s a homebred as well which makes it even more important to win.

“You can see by him, he’s a big chaser in the making, and I’d say we’ll be going over fences sooner rather than later.”

Different mare

The Dan King-ridden Mysilverriverfeale (9/4) took the Tom McCormack Memorial Cup Maiden Hurdle over two miles and three furlongs.

The Blue Bresil mare, owned by J.C. O’Connor, went on after two out and held Facile Ocean by a length and three-quarters.

Trainer Tom Cooper explained: “She was 50 days off before she ran in Killarney, and was just too fresh and keen.

“We dropped her back in trip and left her roll away today, and she was a different mare. I think she’s a ‘120’ mare if she keeps doing things right.”