LOCAL trainer Peter Fahey sent out a double on the first of a two-day meeting at Punchestown.
On a card sponsored almost entirely by William Hill, Live To Laugh struck first when landing the two-mile, seven-furlong William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle under Ethan O’Sullivan.
Sent off 3/1 favourite, the Jimmy Whittle and Michael McEvoy and Good For A Laugh Syndicate and Anthony Callan-owned gelding scored by 10 lengths from Warmer Days Ahead.
Fahey said: “We were a little bit worried about the ground being quick for him, but in fairness they did a great job watering.
“I think he’ll improve away on winter ground, up through the ranks in handicaps over both hurdles and fences.
“They are a great bunch of people that own him, there’s a brother-in-law of mine, Anthony Callan, who’s not too well at the moment, so hopefully that’ll give his family a bit of a lift.”
Following a false start, the stewards found that Nicole Lockhead Anderson, Sarah Kavanagh and Ethan O’Sullivan were in breach of R.208(v)(b) by breaking into a canter and causing a false start, and were each suspended for one raceday.
Red letter day for Ronan
Young jockey Ronan McParland rode the first winner of his career under rules, when partnering the Fahey-trained Tuckmill to win Division ll of the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.
Sent off 12/1, in the colours of owner/breeder Tom McParland, the 10-year-old won nicely by eight lengths from Trixaboutmaisie.
Fahey stated: “We probably weren’t getting much runs out of him earlier in the season. He just came right in the last couple of months. It’s great, he’s given Ronan a bit of experience too.
“He had a winner point-to-pointing the other day, so it’s great for the McParlands. Tom McParland is a legend of racing around here. To train a winner for him in Punchestown is brilliant.”
THE Henry de Bromhead-trained Sea Of Dubka stayed on best under Darragh O’Keeffe to take the opening two-mile hurdle for three-year-olds.
Sent off a 2/1 chance, the filly carried the colours of owners Anthony Head, Stephen E McCarthy and Mrs Paul Shanahan to a half-length success from 11/8 favourite Danny Power.
Stable representative Robbie Power reported: “That was a good performance today, she stepped forward a lot. I think the second horse was maybe a shade unlucky, as he made that mistake at the last.”
Rock rolls into the lead
De Bromhead and O’Keeffe doubled their tally, when Pat O’s Rock landed the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle.
Sporting the familiar Michael O’Flynn silks, the 7/4 chance stayed on well on the run-in to post a four-and-a-quarter-length verdict over 13/8 favourite Ealu Tapa.
Robbie Power said: “It was a good performance by Pat O’s Rock, and she also looked nice when she won her bumper in Kilbeggan earlier this summer.
“It was her first run over hurdles today, she jumped super all the way and got into a lovely rhythm. She showed a good attitude and is a really nice filly to look forward to.”
Gamble landed
Build A Bridge landed a tidy gamble (20/1-11/4 favourite) on his debut for trainer Rory Devine in the two-mile handicap hurdle.
Always prominent under Danny Mullins, the So Be It Syndicate-owned five-year-old led at the last to score by four and a half lengths from Silly Mongoose.
Devine reported: “He had a few little problems when he came, which we sorted, and his homework was very good lately. We’re delighted with that.
“He’s in again at Limerick on Saturday, so we’ll see how he comes out of this. We’ll see how he is in the morning and make a decision after that.”
GORDON Elliott and Jack Kennedy won the two-mile, seven-furlong Challenge Series Hurdle with 6/4 favourite Samui.
Owned by Allan Snow, the gelding landed the spoils by four and a half lengths from Intense Approach.
Elliott said: “It was a lovely opportunity for him and he enjoyed himself. He’s an honest old horse and you can run him over any trip. I’m delighted to get his head back in front and we’ll run him in all those Grade 2s and 3s.”
Another Challenge won
Another Challenge justified favouritism by half a length from Kazbeck in division two of the handicap hurdle for local trainer Oliver McKiernan and Tralee jockey Phillip Enright.
McKiernan, who trained the 6/4 favourite for Keep The Faith Bloodstock Ltd, said: “I bought him from Jimmy Mangan and he said to me ‘Oliver, you might find a better horse when he jumps a fence’ and that’s exactly what happened.
“This evening was a good battle and he had to work. He’s a good ground horse and, if it doesn’t change, we might get a run into him in Naas soon.”
Successful debut
Sonny Carey introduced a smart debutante in the form of Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race winner Eastern Whisper.
Sent off 5/2 favourite under Patrick Mullins, the daughter of Sea The Stars scored by three-quarters of a length from Shuil Solas.
Carey said: “It’s great to get a winner for Syndicates Racing, I think she’ll improve from today and might go to Willie Mullins’ after this. We’ll see what happens. For a flat-bred filly, she stays well.”
The winning rider was suspended for four race days after a stewards’ enquiry, where he was found to be in breach of rule R.10.3 (g) and R.10.3 (f) for frequency and force of the ProCush.