COSISTENT dual-purpose Ragmans Corner (5/1) was roared home by a sizeable contingent of the Wet Room Syndicate in the SIS, Supporting Irish Racing Handicap Hurdle.
The Kalanisi gelding moved into contention between the final two flights and led after the last on his way to beating Whimsy by two and a half lengths in the hands of 7lb-claimer Eoghan Finegan.
Gerry Keane said: “We will probably go to Naas now for the two-mile handicap in October now. If he gets in, he will probably take his chance.
“I thought with the size of him (Ragmans Corner), the 7lb off would help. Looking at it there, we probably didn’t need it!”
Conor Stone-Walsh picked up a two-day ban for riding carelessly on fourth-placed Kazakh D’arthel.
On the Road to victory
The Bet XS Maiden Hurdle looked a competitive affair and it went the way of the Shane O’Callaghan-ridden Friary Road (10/1).
Trained by Ted Walsh for his wife Helen, the winner made steady headway from off the pace to join fellow hurdling debutant Touch The Moon at the last and got the better of a good tussle with that rival up the hill to score by a short-head.
Trainer Walsh said: “A good performance, jumped adequately and he stays well.
“He’s tough and won a couple of bumpers well. He has a future over flights and he has a future on the flat as well too.”
Easy success
Well-backed favourite County Final (7/4 - 1/1) ran out an emphatic winner of the Bar One Racing Maiden Hurdle in the hands of Calum Hogan.
Trained by Eric McNamara for J.P. McManus, the half-brother to Champ Kiely went right at a few hurdles, but led from halfway and readily came clear after the second last to beat Itsaworkinmaniam by 16 lengths.
Racing manager Frank Berry said: “He ran well in fifth at Punchestown. No big plans for him going forward. It was a restricted maiden hurdle for horses that hadn’t been in the first four, and he had the bit of experience.”
Hogan was banned for two days for unnecessary use of the whip when the race was clearly won.
THE first division of the Balreask Bar, Restaurant and Guest Accommodation Handicap Hurdle went to Sceptred Isle (12/1), who recorded her first win over jumps in the hands of Danny Gilligan.
The dual Flat winner came from off the pace under Danny Gilligan and made good headway from the second-last to lead at the final flight. Noel Nugent’s daughter of Cityscape went away to beat Jaadil by four and a quarter lengths.
Trainer George Kingston said: “Zoe McMullan, who is with me there (leading up), schooled her and she was fantastic and relaxed. I rode her myself yesterday morning just a canter and she felt super. I was praying that everything would go right because everything was so right.”
Seizing opportunities
Third reserve Bearami Creek made the most of her opportunity to land the second division of the same handicap hurdle.
She certainly didn’t go unbacked at 12/1 and made headway for Sam Ewing after three out. She improved into fourth at the penultimate flight and soon disputed the lead with Juke Box Rock.
Ewing’s mount led approaching the last and stayed on well along the run-in to win by five and a half lengths for the Bearami Creek Partnership.
Peter Fahey said: “I suppose stepping her up to two and a-half really suited her there today. She has a lovely pedigree and, in fairness, Sam gave her a great ride.”
ECLIPSE Chaser travelled into contention in the Meath Farm Machinery Maiden Hurdle and put the race away in emphatic fashion for Willie Mullins and owners Douglas Taylor and the Turbine Syndicate. The even-money favourite tracked the leaders and readily took over before the last. He powered away on the run-in to score by six and a half lengths from runner-up Jacovec Cavern.
Paul Townend said: “He is (going the right way with racing) to be fair to him. Still did plenty wrong, was in my hands and will have to man up again but he had a lot in his favour - the ground and the track suited him. He had the benefit of the run. We were hoping from his homework he would go and do that, but he will have to keep improving as well. I think he can.”
Roaring home
In the Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Now Ladies Handicap Hurdle, 12-year-old Big Debates, bolted up under Anna McGuinness. Having raced behind the leaders, the Maurice Kelleher-owned winner hit the front travelling well before the last and came right away by 15 lengths at 20/1.
Trainer Robert Tyner said: “The white hurdles (first time to be used at Navan) seemed to bring out the best in him, because he jumped like a buck today. I gave him a proper break this year and he came back in way better form.”
McGuinness was handed a two-day ban for unnecessary use of the whip when the race was clearly won.
Smart prospect
Andy Slattery introduced another smart prospect in bumpers when well-backed Ade Boy justified 11/8 favouritism in the Bar One Racing Flat Race. The newcomer by Bullet Train, and owned by Vincent Claffey, raced in mid-division before making good headway early in the straight. In front with a quarter of a mile to race, he was soon ridden clear and stayed on strongly to hack up by 11 lengths.
Assistant trainer Willie Slattery said: “He’s only been working on the bridle and will improve a lot. I’d say he could be a very, very nice horse. I would say you won’t see him for the winter because he is a good-ground horse, so I’d say you would probably see him in the spring somewhere. That’s what we are hoping (good festival bumpers).”