CIAN Collins and Danny Gilligan teamed up for a near 80/1 double when taking both handicap hurdles on the card with Blue Reed and Secret Rock.

Blue Reed opened his account at the 28th attempt in the Joe Quinn Transport Longford Handicap Hurdle with the 17/2 shot making headway to challenge approaching the last and asserting on the run-in to beat Justicialism by two and a half lengths.

“He’s very consistent and was due that win. That will probably bring him on a bit confidence wise,” said Collins. “It’s the first winner for the owners (Rocket Syndicate). They are great lads and will enjoy this tonight. He’ll go to Cartmel now at the end of June.”

Secret Rock, a three-time winner for Tony Martin and having his first run for Collins, completed the quickfire double in the Midland Veterinary Handicap Hurdle.

The 15/2 chance made smooth headway under Gilligan to lead off the home turn and was ridden out after the last to beat Walk Win by a length and three-quarters.

“We have him a while. He has a few problems, but we got them sorted. The girls did a great job with him. They nursed him really and got him in good form,” said Collins. “It’s a new syndicate (Country Ways Syndicate) and they are 28 lads from Kilmessan, local to us, so it’s great. He’ll mix it during the summer and could run on the flat at Killarney maybe.”

Niall Moore was given a two-day ban for careless riding on Benzine (sixth) following an incident involving Premier Rogue entering the straight.

WARRIORS Wood continued a great bank holiday weekend for Brian Hayes, who partnered a treble over two different venues the previous day, when taking the featured Guy Clothing & Kode Clothing & Footwear Handicap Chase.

Trained locally by Andrew McNamara for Sean McElroy, he took full advantage of a mistake at the last by fellow 7/2 joint favourite Trasna Na Pairce before drawing clear to beat that rival by seven lengths.

The whole complexion of the race changed at the fifth fence where the leader Gaelic Arc fell and hampered a number of runners with Vina Ardanza unseating his rider.

Hayes reflected on the incident saying: “It actually helped me as I avoided it all, and I landed upsides. I got plenty of breathers into my horse and from there on it was straightforward.

“I thought Darragh (O’Keeffe on Trasna Na Pairce) was giving me a race turning for home, but I got a good jump at the last and he finished out well.”

Successful debut

Apple’s Of Bresil made an impressive chasing debut in the other race over fences, the Geoff Scally Centra Summerhill Beginners Chase.

The 2/1 favourite made all under Sean Flanagan and asserted approaching the last before keeping on strongly to beat Chichester Park by 11 lengths.

“He had a little bit of a suspensory issue, nothing major, and we just had to give him the time. He’s a big horse and he always looked like he was going to be better over a fence,” said trainer Barry Connell.

“I’d like to get him to Galway if I can, we’ll see how he comes out of the race. Tim (O’Driscoll, owner) is abroad, in either France or Spain. I can’t keep up with him. He’s had a good old time of it, and we’ll keep him over there!”

LOCAL News, trained by Richard Hennessy for his wife Stephanie, provided the Castlemartyr handler with his first winner when recording a 100/1 shock on debut at Cork and followed up at much shorter odds in the Gannon Eco Novice Hurdle.

Red Or White set a good pace in this four-runner event with 11/10 favourite Master Haku dropping away tamely and pulled up after five out. Local News eventually reeled in the front-runner at the final flight and the 5/4 chance was kept up to her work on the run-in by Alan O’Sullivan to hold off Pets Georgina by a neck.

“She’s such an honest mare. We took a chance going up to three miles today and it worked out,” said Hennessy. “I was a bit worried when the leader was ahead, but Alan was confident that he had enough horse to catch up at all times. She seems to really enjoy good ground.”

New partnership

Tom Cooper saddled his first winner for owner Paul Byrne as Mento found plenty under pressure on the run-in for Shane O’Callaghan to beat Imarajan by three-quarters of a length in the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.

The 10/1 chance was soundly beaten on both previous bumper starts and the Tralee trainer commented, “It was a lovely start over hurdles. I did say to Paul to give him one more chance as he loves jumping.

“He said ‘he’d want to improve a good bit’ but it’s amazing what a jump can do to a horse. There are some lovely novice races over a bit of a trip, and he could even end up in Galway.”

King brothers team up

Thurles trainer James King and his brother Pa teamed up to take the Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race with the gambled-on Rokanako. Available at 20/1 earlier in the day and further backed on track from 11/2 into 3/1, the Tirwanako gelding led approaching the straight under Pa King to score by two and three-quarter lengths from the staying on Ivebeenkewadesert.

“We don’t have him too long, but he did a couple of nice bits of work at home,” said the winning rider. “I think he’s a horse that will win plenty of races and might be able to drop back and win on the flat. He’s quick and loves good ground.”