FATHER and son duo, trainer Charles and jockey Philip Byrnes combined for doubles at their local Limerick course on a very busy Students’ Day on Thursday, with two well-backed winners.

Beginning with the Love Island Syndicate’s Fly Away Home (morning 2/1, returned 5/4 favourite), the pair landed the opening Locke Burger Maiden Hurdle, as the six-year-old mare raced with the pace to see off Kisuton Enki by a length and a quarter.

Byrnes senior stated: “Fly Away Home had been ultra-consistent and that’s her level. She was super fit and had plenty [of] runs. She wants soft ground, so I don’t know if she will run again, but to get the win was the main thing.”

Double up

Opposite Ends (4/1 favourite) provided team Byrnes with a double in the second division of the Professor Maria Hinfelaar Handicap Hurdle, with a maiden success.

Byrnes junior held the eight-year-old up in rear and, having led after the last, scored by four and three-quarter lengths from Ballingurteen.

Trainer Byrnes said: “We thought he might have been placed in Clonmel the last day, as he was starting to run on, but got brought down and got a terrible fall. Philip was lucky afterwards and he gave him a beautiful ride today.

“He left them all at it and swept up the outside on the better ground.

“We have the horse since he was a foal (bought for €16,000 in 2018), so have him a long time, but have plenty others for as long who don’t win - so this is great.”

GAELIC Warrior’s brother Sparkling Wit (6/4 favourite) made a winning debut in the concluding Sinbin Events Bumper, appropriately scoring in the colours of Gold Cup-winning owner Rich Ricci, trainer Willie Mullins and his son, jockey Patrick Mullins.

Held up in rear, Sparkling Wit improved to challenge before the straight and, having led over a furlong out, held on well to score by a half-length from Muckanagh Lough.

Sparkling Wit is three years younger than his illustrious brother and, following this race, jockey Patrick Mullins reported: “We were very worried about the ground, as he is not like his brothers (Gaelic Warrior and four-year-old Our Trigger) and I think he is a good-ground horse.

“I think he’ll be much better on nicer ground and I’d be hoping he could go for a winners’ bumper around May-time. I just think he is not a middle-of-winter horse.”

Beginners’ chase bound

Trainer Michael Winters landed a popular success with Shellrunforbriggs (3/1) in the D’Icon Novice Handicap Hurdle, who scored for owner/breeders the Gone Stone Mad Syndicate and jockey Darragh O’Keeffe.

Making virtually all, capable mare Shellrunforbriggs held on well to score by five and a half lengths from Sense Of Occasion.

Winters reported: “Adrian Maguire (brother-in-law) popped that mare over a jump the other day and told us to change tactics and go from the front. There are a lot of other people to thank and the syndicate, from Abbeyfeale, are with us a long time. We might now go for a beginners’ chase before the summer comes.”

Jockey O’Keeffe is giving chase and is eight winners behind Jack Kennedy in this season’s jockeys’ championship, with Kennedy riding his 99th winner of the campaign on He Can’t Dance, in the Monk Bar Maiden Hurdle.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Gigginstown House Stud-owned grey won well from King’s Bucks and, afterwards, Kennedy commented: “He has been a bit disappointing and, for his ability, it has taken a while to get his head back in front.

“He probably holds on to a bit for himself, hence the blinkers, but it is nice for him to do that. He is a big chaser in the making.”

TRAINER Diarmuid Ryan fulfilled a long-held ambition of having a Limerick winner, as his Cooltubrid Evva landed the opening division of the Professor Maria Hinfelaar Handicap Hurdle, as the 33/1 winner scored in the colours of his wife Mary Ryan.

Ridden by Michael Kenneally, the seven-year-old daughter of Champs Elysees improved from mid-division to lead at the last and scored by four and three-quarter lengths from Let Him B.

Delighted, Ryan reported: “I’ve always wanted to win in Limerick, so I’ve done it now. This is my third winner and I’m based in Kilmacthomas in Co Waterford. I have two horses, who are owned by my wife, and I ride them as well.

“I rode this mare the other day when she nearly ran away with me, so it wasn’t a surprise she won. Like myself, she has had medical issues, but has come good and we thought she’d be there or thereabouts.”

Back on top

Trainer Mouse Morris ended a frustrating spell, as his Miss Corby (9/2) landed the D & J Glazing Handicap Hurdle, for owners Timmy Hyde and Paul Shanahan and jockey Harry Swan. The 102-rated daughter of Walk In The Park raced prominently and scored by two and a quarter lengths from Way Down South.

Morris commented: “After all my seconds lately, it is nice to get one past the post. We might step her up now to three miles and she’ll go on good ground. That’s Harry’s second winner for me and he rides with his head, very much like his father (Charlie).”

Owner/trainer Michael McDonagh also enjoys a winner at his local course, and landed the Big Boss Group Handicap Hurdle with fast-finishing Springboard (8/1), under jockey Cian Quirke.

Afterwards, McDonagh reported: “I thought the ground was too heavy for him, because we always felt he wanted better ground. What worked in his favour was it was a two-mile race and he really stays two and a half, so flew home.

“I told Cian to ride the horse as he finds him, but you can’t really give jockeys like him instructions, as he won a Grade 1 race recently and is a good jockey. The horse had a problem with a leg in the past and had a layoff, but is back now.”