NOT for the first time in his highly successful career, Danny Mullins employed enterprising tactics when guiding the gambled-on Eastmore, owned by Justin Carthy and Patrick John O’Brien, to a facile success in Limerick’s Cappawhite Civil Engineering Handicap Hurdle over two miles.

The 10/11 favourite was kept to the wide outside throughout and, enjoying a visibly drier surface than the rest of the field who raced on watered ground, cruised home to win by an eased-down 15 lengths from Dairy Force.

Winning trainer Charles Byrnes revealed: “Danny rang asking for permission to ride the horse out wide, as he had walked the track and said it was worth 20 to 30 lengths by keeping out. It is the jockey who should get the (handicapper’s) penalty!”

Double up

Byrnes and Mullins then teamed up with Run For Oscar (18/1), who turned over odds-on favourite Daddy Long Legs in the five-runner Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle over two miles.

The 11-year-old, victorious in the Cesarewitch in 2022, was pursued into the straight by the strong-travelling market leader as the pair moved on from their rivals and was the more fluent of the pair over the last, scoring in the end by two lengths.

Owned by the Top Of The Hill Syndicate, this Grade 3 triumph was a ninth success in all codes for the winner.

“I was conscious coming here that today’s course would be watered, but wouldn’t have markers, so I booked Danny as he’d be the best man to keep out wide,” said Byrnes. “On ratings, he had a bit to do, but he has been a great horse and today was a bonus.”

Successful Siege

Trained by Josh Halley for the Whacker’s Clan Syndicate, Siege Of Carthage was the well-backed 4/1 winner of the Eddie Noonan Groundworks Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles.

The race was the fourth of the day, but was the first to have markers in place preventing jockeys circumventing watered areas, and having also raced wide, the Getaway gelding won eased down by 20 lengths from Latopix.

“He had run in a point-to-point and had a lot of schooling done, so we were hoping he’d run a good race, and he’ll have no problem jumping fences too,” explained rider Phillip Enright.

DAN King was another jockey to notch a brace of winners, starting with Minella Rockett (11/10 favourite) in the Cappawhite Civil Engineering 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle over two miles.

The New Bay gelding raced prominently throughout in the first juvenile contest of the season and scored by a length and a half from Sofi’s Gift.

Winning owner/trainer John Nallen said: “He is not huge in stature, but is big in heart. ‘Corky’ Carroll had a lot of schooling done with him.

“Options over hurdles are scarce for him now, so he can go back on the flat where there is a good pot in him.”

King’s second winner was Knocknagoran Lady (11/1), who recorded a breakthrough success in the second split of the handicap hurdle over two miles, six furlongs.

Noel Flanagan’s daughter of Lauro led after two out and wasn’t hard pressed to account for Set The Tone by six and a half lengths.

Winning trainer Cian Hughes said: “She was on her last chance today, so she must have known! She is a great jumper and will probably be better over a fence. We only have 12 riding out and are struggling big time, so we are looking for more. I’m based in Kilcock.”

Small mare, big heart

Diminutive mare Sallap (15/2) took the first division of the Munster Suite at Limerick Races Handicap Hurdle over two miles, six furlongs.

Building on last month’s win at Clonmel, owner/breeder Willie Cleary’s daughter of Court Cave was produced to lead by Michael Kenneally between the final two flights and went away to beat Smallcraftwarning by two and three-quarter lengths.

Winning trainer Sam Curling said: “She is very small, but is a right little mare. That’s three wins and she was going to win before falling in Thurles last winter too. That was a heavy fall, and she was very tough to come back from it.”

THE INPBA Supporting Irish Racing Flat Race (In Memory Of Jerry McDonnell) saw Henry de Bromhead’s newcomer Frisco Lad (9/4 joint-favourite) make all under John Gleeson in the two-mile contest, scoring by a comfortable four and a quarter lengths from Mountain Sky.

Breeder Michael O’Shaughnessy, who is part of the A Walk In The Park Syndicate, said: “I live in San Francisco and am home for another 10 days before flying back.

“I’m from Coachford in Cork and my brother John was previously involved in horses as a trainer. I rode out myself for Gerry Cully many years ago, when I was a bit smaller!”

Global Skies (2/1 favourite) followed up a victory at Clonmel in June when taking the Joe Walsh Flooring Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles. Under a 9lb penalty, the Mondialiste gelding recorded a battling half-length win from Friar Hogan in the hands of Danny Gilligan.

Trainer Ross O’Sullivan commented: “He is versatile and, while I wouldn’t rule out going back on the flat, he definitely looks like he could step up further in trip over hurdles.

“Charlie Doocey and his wife Nuala came over from England this morning to see him run, so this is great. They are originally from Mayo and this is my first horse for them.”