CROWNED champion conditional last term, Tiernan Power Roche rode out his 3lb claim in style at Limerick when Duffys Hodey, trained by Philip Rothwell for the Fairwood Racing Syndicate, readily landed the Vision Contracting Handicap Chase over two miles, three and a half furlongs.

Disappointing on his previous couple of starts, but a course winner at the Christmas meeting, the 7/1 chance moved to the front travelling well before two out and motored home to win by 11 lengths from Shanroe Act.

“He is a great old servant and that’s his fourth win for me,” said the winning rider. “He jumped very well, that trip suited and he likes that soft ground.”

Two from two

Willie Mullins sent two runners to the meeting and came away with a double. Beauvallon (6/4 favourite), owned by the Beauvallon Syndicate, took the Ryans Cleaning (C & G) Maiden Hurdle over two miles.

The half-brother to Jim Bolger’s 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare had finished fifth on hurdling debut at Thurles.

Here, he tracked front-running market rival Manoir De Mirande and came off the bridle before that one but picked up well to lead at the last for a four-and-three-quarter-length victory.

Winning rider Paul Townend said: “He came on plenty from his first run and I think he’ll be a nice dual-purpose horse. He has strengthening up to do, and has improvement in him jumping-wise as well.”

Successful debut

The market principals fought out the finish to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race which saw 8/11 favourite Even Tho make a winning start under rules to complete the Willie Mullins brace.

The half-sister to four-time winner The Enabler was in front when falling at the last in a Dromahane point-to-point in December.

Now owned by PIL Gallop, the daughter of Crystal Ocean conceded first run to second-favourite Araminta in the two-mile, three-furlong contest but collared that rival a furlong out before clearing away to score by four and a half lengths.

“I think there is a lot of improvement in her,” said winning rider Patrick Mullins. “It was probably her first time off the bridle and it took her maybe 10 strides to click into gear, but once she did, I was always going to get there and she won hands and heels.

“She will now go to the Grade 3 bumper at the Punchestown Festival. She has a proper National Hunt, staying pedigree and while we weren’t afraid of two miles, three furlongs, she isn’t slow either. Pat Doyle recommended her highly and she has a bright future.”

AFTER a good run against older mares in a Leopardstown bumper, Shirzan (5/2) got off the mark on her second start over jumps, and third overall, in the Ryans Cleaning Fillies Maiden Hurdle.

The Saxon Warrior homebred, owned by the Charles & Harry O’Reilly Partnership, tracked the leaders under Cian Cullinan in the two-mile contest and led between the final two hurdles to post a five-length victory over Louie’s Folly.

Trainer Paul Fahey was leading up the winner and his son Aaron stated: “Her homework had been very good and she has a nice turn of foot. We’ll see what rating she gets now and hopefully there’ll be nice handicaps to be won with her. She can run through the summer.”

’Wasn’t an easy watch’

The Ryans Cleaning Maiden Hurdle, for horses previously unplaced, was won by Royal Belief who came from an unlikely position to score in the hands of Ben Harvey.

Available at 33/1 in the morning, the Make Believe four-year-old was sent off a 6/1 chance. He was ridden along in sixth and looked held at the second-last, but stayed on well after the last to post a two-length win over Daisy Fingall.

Winning trainer Cian Collins said: “That is ‘job done’ although it wasn’t an easy watch. Ben said he probably wants further and made hard work of it.

“He is far from a natural jumper and lost a lot of ground today, but he has an engine. I bought him for €6,000 (out of John O’Donoghue’s yard) and thankfully the (Del Boy) syndicate, who are great supporters of ours, took him.”

SIMON Torrens gave Dolly Watkins (15/2) a well-judged ride to take the handicap hurdle over two miles, five furlongs.

Chemdawg went off into a clear lead but Dolly Watkins improved into second on the approach to the straight and pegged back the tiring front-runner at the last to score by six lengths.

Winning trainer Aidan Howard commented: “She ran well in Down Royal after a lengthy break and I was hoping she’d go close today.

“She has had foot issues, but we have a very good farrier who has done a great job with her. I’m delighted for my mother Nuala and David Cunning (owners).”

Picked up for €13,000 in 2024, Come On The Lads (7/2) has proved a bargain buy for trainer Gavin Cromwell and The Lads Partnership.

On his first start for five months, the Elzaam gelding came from off the pace to land the Vision Contracting Handicap Chase over two miles, two furlongs.

Keith Donoghue’s mount hit the final ditch, three from home, but moved easily into contention thereafter and headed the front-running Marelly after the last for a cosy three-and-a-quarter-length success.

Winning trainer Gavin Cromwell said: “He jumped brilliant on the whole, bar a couple of small mistakes in the back straight, and it all unfolded nicely for him.

“He was bought out of a claimer for handy money and won an €80,000 hurdle at Galway last summer, so has been a great horse for the lads. Summer chases over two miles will suit as he has plenty of gears.”