MARK Walsh registered a belated first success of the new season at Killarney on Saturday, where the Gold Cup-winning jockey landed the featured Listed Canella Lane Handicap Chase on J.P. McManus’ Willie Mullins-trained Jalila Moriviere (9/4 favourite).

Walsh, who was replaced by Harry Cobden as McManus’ stable jockey this season, made the most of his opportunity on Jalila Moriviere, when steering her to a well-timed three-quarter-length success, over She’s A Fine Wine.

Walsh later commented: “She jumped brilliantly bar the fourth-last and the sharp easy track suited her well.

“She didn’t get home over two and three-quarter miles in the Galway Blazers and this course was a help today. She picked up, went away well and is a grand little mare for those races.”

Daddy opens double

Champion trainer Mullins had earlier scored with Daddy Long Legs (13/8 favourite) in the Moynihan Scaffolding Ltd Beginners Chase, under jockey Brian Hayes.

The seven-year-old jumped well, made all and scored by seven lengths from recent Galway Hurdle winner, and fellow chasing debutante, Putapoundinthejar.

Regarding the Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned winner, Hayes commented: “Reports at home about his schooling were very good and I was able to keep it very simple. We set nice fractions, he jumped from fence to fence and he really enjoyed it.

“He is flat-bred, but is a natural at that game and I think fences could improve him. He has loads of scope and, going long and short, he is very good.”

JOHN Magnier’s dark blue silks were successful at both the Curragh with Queenstown in the St Leger Trial and at the Kerry course, with Butch Cassidy (1/2 favourite) in the Old Market Lane Traders Novice Chase.

Ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, Butch Cassidy made all the running and scored readily from three rivals.

Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead wasn’t present and O’Keeffe commented: “Jumping off at the start I had to give him a shake, but in fairness to him, he got into a great rhythm and his jumping was so good.

“He is a fine big horse, who we’ve always thought plenty of and he has put two wins back to back now. This will do his confidence the world of good.”

In the gold

The M.L. Lynch Civil Engineering Ltd Maiden Hurdle (div II) was won by the Bill Durkan-trained, Queen Elizabeth II-bred Golden Handshake (10/11 favourite), who defeated Certosa by 10 lengths for owners the Four D Partnership and jockey Philip Enright.

Durkan’s assistant Gary Bannon commented: “He had very bad feet, but a friend of mine advised me to buy him, and said to just give him time.

“We liked him going to Galway, where I felt he was my nap of the week, and I think he’d have won (only for unseating at the last).

“He’ll go for a winners’ of one or novice and we’ll race him until the ground becomes heavy. I haven’t got one ‘up the hill’ at Cheltenham yet, so maybe he could be one for the October meeting over there.”

There was an unfortunate outcome to the race, as jockey Gary Noonan was airlifted to Cork University Hospital with concussion and fractures to his ribs, following a fall from Je Suis Celebre.

Noonan was later reported to be recovering following the heavy fall, with the next race being delayed by 54 minutes.

Close finish

The delayed Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle was won by John ‘Shark’ Hanlon’s Pure Logic (10/1), under the trainer’s son Paddy Hanlon.

Pure Logic made most of the running to score a first success on her 14th start, holding on by a neck from Laligurash.

Hanlon senior stated: “We have had 14 seconds in the last nine weeks, so we are entitled to another winner.

“I went over to England with a bundle of horses this year, where we’ve had three winners and eight seconds. The horses have been running great, but we couldn’t get a winner recently.

“I’m delighted to get this mare to win, as her owners (Multi Nationals Syndicate) are from Kerry. There is never a problem with them and they love the game.”

THE Gavin Cromwell-trained Londonofficecallin (8/1) registered a remarkable 11th career success in the Tote Never Beaten By SP Handicap Hurdle, when following up his May success in the Cork Derby.

Ridden by Eoin Staples, Londonofficecallin raced prominently and held on well to score by a length and a half from Jupiter Du Gite.

In Bounds Syndicate-member Feidhlim Cunningham reported: “He has been some servant. We picked him up for small money and have never had to pay a bill for him, as that’s 11 wins now.

“He gives his all, he tries and has given the syndicate a great buzz all the way. Gavin is back in form after a rough patch and the horse loves this course, and is three-from-three around here.”

Making all

Racing began with the win of the John Nallen-owned and trained Minella Hollow (11/2) in the M.L. Lynch Civil Engineering Ltd Maiden Hurdle (div I).

Ridden by Dan King, Minella Hollow made all the running and held on well to defeat the Willie Mullins-trained, King Charles-owned Reaching High, by a half length.

Nallen’s assistant James Carroll commented: “We found it hard to keep him sound last season, but brought him back this year and he has been 100%.

“We gave him a run back in Roscommon, but hadn’t had him away schooling, and he chipped in plenty that day. He came on today, he was very fresh and stuck his neck out. There is a for sale sign on him.”

Future champion chaser

Trainer Jim Bolger was on hand to welcome his own winner Teofil (8/11 favourite), who scored in thoroughly determined fashion in the Laurels Pub Bumper.

The recent Galway festival winner was strongly pressed by Rokanako in the home straight, but held on gamely under jockey John Gleeson, for a length-and-a-half win.

At Galway in July, Bolger had nominated Teofil as a future winner of the Champion Chase, and the gelding followed in the hoofprints of Marine Nationale, who landed the 2022 renewal of this race.

Bolger commented: “I rate him highly and he will probably go in a maiden hurdle next, although he could have a run on the flat as well.

“He would be alright over a mile and a half on the flat, as he has plenty of pace and isn’t slow. I haven’t been racing here in 10 or 15 years, not since I lost a gorgeous filly on the track.”