TRAINER Vincent Halley is targeting the Galway Plate with Senecia (morning 28s, returned 10/1), who returned to form in landing Killarney’s featured Grade 3 Boyle Sports An Riocht Chase on Monday.

Having had a surgical procedure done since pulling up in the Dublin Chase in February, the nine-year-old made the running under Philip Enright. Senecia maintained his gallop throughout and scored smartly by a length, when conceding 8lb to runner-up Three Card Brag.

Halley, who trains Senecia for his father Lar, reported: “He has plenty ability, but had a lot of issues although is back on the straight and narrow now, so hopefully he can get to the Galway Plate next.

“He had a recent wind procedure done, which seemed to help a lot at home as his work had been very good.

“We also brought him to the beach, but until they run, you don’t know what to expect.

“He is as fresh as ever, still retains a lot of ability and he is just one of two horses I have at the moment - the other is a companion and point-to-pointer.

“I also work for trainer Eoin Griffin too and it would be great to get this horse to the Galway Plate now.”

Lovely jubbly

Having landed the Killarney National at the course on Saturday, on Monday Enda Bolger completed a ‘lovely jubbly’-themed double, with Samba Train and Solitary Man. Samba Train (2/1 favourite) landed the opening Easy Clean (Mares’) Maiden Hurdle under Aine O’Connor, when getting the better of Poetic Twist by a neck, to score for her owner/breeder Sir Francis Brooke.

Bolger reported: “It was her first time at that trip, she stayed well and, like her owner (Sir Francis Brooke), she is a pleasure. She was slick over her hurdles, saw it out well and she’ll keep going for the summer.”

Double up

Bolger was in top form following his second success with the Shanahan/Magnier/Carthy/Bartlett-owned Solitary Man (6/4 favourite) in the Thorn Plant Hire Hunters Chase, steered to victory by Josh Halford.

Racing mid-division, Solitary Man improved to lead at the second last and finished well to beat What Path by a length and a half.

Afterwards, Bolger quipped: “As Del Boy said ‘well, we’ve had worse days!’ We’ve had a great few days so, like Del and Rodney, I’ll have to go out to the car and start rocking it!

“There’s another one of these hunter chases for him in Listowel in three weeks and that’ll be the plan, although this ground is a big factor for him. He likes going left-handed, that’s his fifth win around here and he is a lovely fun horse.”

THE Wise Venture Partnership were on the mark in the Park2Travel Maiden Hurdle, scoring with the Cian Collins-trained Hi Ho Idaho (7/4 favourite), under jockey Danny Gilligan.

Racing prominently throughout, Hi Ho Idaho led from the second last and held on well to score by a half length from Splendid Fellow.

Collins commented: “He is a lovely horse, who is improving with every run and, after Clonmel, we said we’d aim for here as his owners are from Kerry and Cork. Brian Quill, from Listowel, heads the partnership and they are great new owners, who have bought a couple of horses.

“Benny Walsh recommended him after his point-to-points, said he’d win plenty of races, so I went off his word and thankfully it has worked out. I think he’ll keep improving and we’ll aim for Listowel.”

Ready for take off

Jockey Darragh O’Keeffe partnered his first winner of the new term on Henry de Bromhead’s Midnight Jet (5/4 favourite) in the Killarney Town Retailers Association Novice Hurdle.

Following the nine-length success over Columbus, assistant trainer Robert Power reported: “I thought it was a very professional performance and he has even stepped forward from his run in Fairyhouse.

“I’m delighted with the way he jumped and travelled, and Darragh gave him a lovely ride and got him into such a nice rhythm. Tony (Head, owner) likes to come over for Galway, so I’d imagine a novice hurdle will be the plan there.”

Back in form

Burru (morning 16/1, returned 11/2), returned to form to land the Killarney Oaks Hotel Handicap Hurdle for trainer Benny Crowley, owner Martin Kiely and jockey Michael Kenneally.

Previously successful in November 2024, Burru made most of the running when scoring by three and a half lengths from Watch The Weather.

Crowley said: “Having left me for a period of time, I was a little in the dark but he was in off near bottom weight on his favoured good ground, so I did fancy him. This horse means a lot to me, as he won at a time when my father was unwell, so he is a horse close to my heart.

“That’s my third winner, I only have two horses for the track at the moment and had one point-to-pointer last winter. I’m based in Kilmeaden and I mostly break and pre-train horses, but can train one when we get them.”

ONEFORGONZO (7/2) gained a somewhat overdue first chasing success when landing the Dan Linehan’s Handicap Chase for trainer Sean Aherne, owner Eoin Barry and jockey Sean O’Keeffe.

Competing from a mark of 94, 16lb below his hurdles’ mark, Oneforgonzo out-battled Sophia Rose on the run-in, to score by a half length.

Aherne said: “He turned in like the winner in Down Royal in January, and again in Thurles the last day you’d have thought ‘how far?’, but he didn’t follow through either day.

“It was nice today that he had another horse to take him all the way, and the better ground and distance suited. He is better than his form recently and he is a big horse, who is well suited to chasing.”

The concluding Executive Helicopters Ladies’ Bumper was won by the Harry Kelly-trained Airds Miss (1/2 favourite), who made all to win for jockey Anna McGuinness and owner Alistair Spittal.

Kelly commented: “He is a nice horse who had a very good first bumper run, but is still green and a baby.

“He backed up his Cork run, which is great, and this is Alistair’s second bumper winner from two horses with us. He is here since Saturday, so is going home a happy man.”