DANNY Power was an impressive winner of the opening race of the week at Listowel which was the Charleville Cheese 3-Y-O Hurdle over two miles.

A well-supported 3/1 chance on his racecourse debut, the Blue Bresil gelding was full of running when going on at the second last to slam Chairmanforlife by eight and a half lengths.

There was drama before the race when intended rider Mark Walsh was kicked in the parade ring by Michael Ryan’s homebred.

Walsh was able to walk away, albeit gingerly, and after the horse was resaddled, Darragh O’Keeffe took over in the plate with the race going off seven minutes late.

“I am just a bit upset over Mark, but I think he is okay. It was totally untypical of the horse, who just lashed out. I suppose it was his first time at school,” said winning trainer John Queally.

“We thought we’d have to withdraw but, in fairness, the IHRB were very cooperative and on the ball. Once I could get a jockey quickly, I could run and it worked out well.

“It was nice to win this race, as the last time I did so was with Al Eile first time out as well.”

Wide-margin winner

Stood down for the day, Walsh missed another winner, with O’Keeffe again replacing him, when 6/5 favourite Tumbling In routed her three rivals in the Cheestrings Irish EBF Mares Hurdle over two and a half miles.

The scopey daughter of Walk In The Park beat Le Nez Creux by a facile 16 lengths and trainer Eric McNamara quipped: “If we could get enough of these horses, people would think I was a good trainer!

“I’m privileged to train for the owners, who I’ve known for a long time. Paul Shanahan came to me one day to say he would send me a horse, along with the boss (John Magnier).

“She will go up in grade now and there is a nice mares’ race for her at Cheltenham in November.”

THE feature contest was the Kinisla Handicap Chase over two and a quarter miles and Net Boy (12/1) made most to win in great style under Sean Flanagan.

The lightly-raced seven-year-old scored by nine lengths from Jalila Moriviere.

“He has really only had one and a half runs over fences as he went at the third fence at Leopardstown and pulled a shoe when pulling up at Killarney. As a result, I thought the others would have too much experience for him,” explained winning owner/trainer Barry Connell.

“It was a €45,000 handicap which is a lot for this grade of horses, so it was grand to get it done. He is a two-miler and is a young man’s ride! He jumped them like a set of hurdles and Sean wasn’t taking a pull.”

Close finish

The first five home in the Bloom Feeds Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle, over two and a quarter miles, were covered by little more than a length with Fraher Field (14/1) getting up close home under Alan O’Sullivan to pip Shirzan by a short-head.

Owned by John and Pierce Flynn and Conor Lannen, the six-year-old is trained by John and Tommy Kiely.

Tommy Kiely led up the winner and commented: “Alan gave her a great spin and was able to get a lovely tow into the race. Hopefully she will go on again from this.”

Tom O’Connor, who rode Regards To Rose, picked up a four-day ban for carless riding after tightening up Danny Mullins’ mount How’s Ellie on the bend past the stands.

ON a card sponsored in its entirety by Kinisla, the new corporate brand name for the former dairy business of Kerry Group plc, Willie Mullins recorded a short-priced treble with his first winner being Run Ted Run (4/6 favourite) in the Dairygold Maiden Hurdle over two miles, six furlongs.

The Galway bumper winner made all under Paul Townend and fended off Too Hot To Trot by a length and a quarter.

“He must be a fair machine to put in a performance like that, as he was running away (keenly) and was so wound up,” commented Mullins. “He’s another nice prospect for H O S (Syndicate).”

’Forward-going two-miler’

Ocastle Des Mottes (5/4 favourite) took the five-runner Kerrymaid Rated Novice Chase, over two and a quarter miles.

Paul Townend’s mount, in the double green colours of Simon Munir and Issac Souede, accounted for Apple’s Of Bresil by a length and a quarter.

“Having won in Galway, it shows how versatile he is to win going left-handed on a flat track today,” said Mullins.

“He likes that trip, but Paul felt he’d like more of a dig in the ground. It took him six runs to win over fences, but he is a forward-going two-miler and we are only now learning how to train him.”

Green strikes gold

Sent off the 8/13 favourite, Green Hint, also owned by Simon Munir and Issac Souede, sauntered to a facile win in the Kinisla Farm & Home Store (Pro/Am) Flat Race over two miles.

A point-to-point winner for Stuart Crawford and runner-up in both previous bumper starts, the Crystal Ocean grey beat market rival Sir Vinny by seven and a half lengths.

“I’ll have a word with the owners and see if they want to go hurdling, or stay bumpering, this season,” Mullins reported.

“The way he did that today, he could be one for the Cheltenham bumper as he’ll improve away, so we’ll see.”