HENRY de Bromhead’s Rockonliam (3/1 favourite) was an appropriate winner of Killarney’s Kelly Brothers Maiden Hurdle on Monday, scoring minutes after stable jockey Rachael Blackmore announced her retirement.

Blackmore’s 4.45pm posting immediately went viral, with Rockonliam doing his bit for the narrative by scoring under jockey Darragh O’Keeffe.

O’Keeffe, who shared the de Bromhead-rides last season, commented: “It is great to see Rachael go out on her own terms and what a career she has had.

“She has been unbelievable and I must say a big thanks to her, as since I started riding for Henry, she has been a massive influence the whole way through.

“When she was out injured (last winter), she helped me every day and you knew on every call that she wasn’t in a rush to get you off the phone and gave you every detail. I wish her well in what she does next.

“What she has done for this game is phenomenal and she has won everything that has to be won.”

Maiden hurdle

Regarding the Cheeky Pups Syndicate-owned Rockonliam, he added: “He jumped really well bar the fourth-last and it was a good performance.

“He will get further and will jump a fence as well, as he is a fine, big, scopey lad.”

Racing began with the Kerry Tool Hire Mares Maiden Hurdle, with Affinity Rock (15/8 favouirite) scoring for jockey Danny Gilligan, trainer Cian Collins and the Friends In Low Places Syndicate.

Afterwards, Collins reported: “She is 17.1hh, is a brilliant jumper and is very natural to jump.

“She will be a chaser, but we won’t overrace her and will mind her and pick her races.

“Jack Lord rides her out every day and has done a great job settling her.

“My uncle (Noel Collins) bred her and won a point-to-point with her, and thankfully got a syndicate to buy her. She will be a nice mare for them.”

Hercule heads a Mullins double

CHAMPION trainer Willie Mullins completed a double and landed the featured Grade 3 BoyleSports An Riocht Chase with J.P. McManus’ Hercule Du Seuil (9/4), under jockey Mark Walsh.

The son of Saddler Maker had won six of seven starts in 2023 and, on Monday, registered a ninth career success when beating stablemate Blood Destiny.

McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry reported: “It was a lovely comeback race, they went a good gallop and he settled and jumped great.

“He previously had a great novice year and this was lovely and was a grand race to win. He’ll probably stick to those conditions’ races.”

Mullins and stable champion jockey Paul Townend had earlier landed the Irish Examiner Novice Hurdle with smart Flat recruit Sober (4/11 favourite), which scored on his jumps debut for OTI Racing and The Why Knot Partnership.

Wore down

A dual Group 2 winner, Sober raced with the leaders and eventually wore down leader Arch Empire on the run-in, to score by a length and a half.

Mullins’ assistant David Casey reported: “Sober had high-class flat form in France and, while you don’t know how they will handle hurdles the first day out, Paul said he jumped pretty well although was a bit novicey.

“He will improve plenty for it and Paul thinks that experience will help him loads.

“There weren’t many maiden hurdles around where he wouldn’t be carrying a penalty, so we decided to come here as he was getting an allowance and there is usually a small field. We’ve come here with Absurde in the past.

“The Ascot Gold Cup is an early closing race, so we had to have him entered if we wanted to run.

“He could run there or could run in one of the handicaps at Royal Ascot.”

Bumper

Jody Townend was on the mark in the concluding Executive Helicopters Bumper, scoring on the Terence O’Brien-trained The Danny Feeling (11/8 favourite).

O’Brien said: “It wasn’t the strongest of races, but we thought he improved from last year as he had been weak. He needed all that condition today and has been pretty good since he came back into training.

“I bred him myself and a friend of mine Joe Buckley got three of his friends involved to buy this horse. Denis Walsh - who writes for the Sunday Times - is involved with Donal Harnedy and Christopher Roche, who are all from Carrigtwohill.”

ANOTHER capable amateur jockey Shane Cotter registered his first racecourse winner in the Alan Ball Memorial Hunters Chase, steering Bartlemy Boy (13/2) to victory for owner/trainer Michael ‘Trixie’ Barry.

Racing prominently, Bartlemy Boy led from the second-last and finished well for a three-parts of a length win over Dundaniel, with 4/6 favourite Lifetime Ambition in third.

Cotter, 18 and from Ballynoe, Co Cork, reported: “I’m with Denis Murphy full-time and school in the afternoons for whoever needs me.

“I was champion under-21 rider last season, but this season wasn’t as good. I broke my leg at the start and only came back in January. Hopefully, this will bring me along for next season. I’m riding with the best in point-to-points, it is a great grounding.”

Barry added: “We are delighted, as he didn’t qualify for the recent maiden hunters chase at Tipperary. He won his maiden point-to-point last season, so had to go straight into open company today.

“Shane (Cotter) is a neighbour and also a very good friend of my son’s and gave the horse a great ride. We’ll keep him point-to-pointing and hunter chasing and could run at Listowel.”

DANNY Mullins completed a double, beginning with success for good friend, trainer John Ryan in the Killarney Oaks Hotel Handicap Hurdle on the Walter O’Connor-owned My Gaffer (7/2 joint-favourite).

My Gaffer made all for a three and three-quarter lengths win, with Ryan reporting: “Danny is never too far away riding for me and we go back a long way. He comes in every Wednesday during the summer, but I leave him alone for the winter as he is very busy.

“Danny initially rode for me on the flat as a 16-year-old and afterwards rang me when he became quiet at one stage of his career. He told me to give him two rides at Listowel one year, both won and we have become great friends. As long as he is riding and I’m training, I’ll give him rides.”

Regarding My Gaffer, he added: “That is a lovely little horse. He was out of sorts for a while, got a slight injury so I had to lay off him. He is a smart horse and is very well-bred. He didn’t half win.”

Second success

Mullins had to work harder for his second success, as Gabriel Ranger (6/1) gave local owner Tadhg O’Sullivan a first course win in the Dan Linehan’s Handicap Chase.

Mullins again made the running on Gabriel Ranger and, while headed approaching the final fence, rallied to beat Cloughroe by a neck.

Owner O’Sullivan, a well-known retired surgeon, quipped: “Danny says he much prefers to meet me in the winner’s enclosure than on the operating table!

“I’m from west Cork, so this is the place I first came racing 50 years ago with my father, so I’ve always loved it here. I’ve had horses with Joe (Murphy, winning trainer) for 15 years, so we go back a long time.”

Winning trainer Joe Murphy added: “Today was the plan. This is the horse’s level and I’m trying to switch Tadhg’s attentions to the flat!”