WESTPORT Cove (4/6 favourite) completed a double at Roscommon for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend when making all in the featured Ballymore Group Irish EBF Kilbegnet Novice Chase (Grade 3).

The second-season novice got off the mark over fences at Ballinrobe in May before finishing second in a Grade 3 at the Galway festival.

Here, he was pursued by market rival King Of Kingsfield but took that one’s measure after two out as Special Cadeau moved into second. That rival tried to close on the run-in but the Cathal Hughes-owned winner kept on well to score by a length and a quarter.

Townend commented: “He ran a cracker at Galway but the hill caught him. It suited him here, back to two miles and not as stiff a track. The fences up the home straight helped him as his jumping is an asset.

“He wants nice ground, he handled the ground during the winter last year and ran in some good beginners’ and got good experience in them. He’s definitely better on the top of the ground though.”

Scary second last

Mullins and Townend had struck earlier with Rakki (8/15 favourite), who overcame a scare at the second last to win the four-year-old maiden hurdle.

Owned by the Act D Wagg Syndicate, the Sea The Stars gelding challenged travelling well when making a bad mistake at the penultimate flight. Gathered up by Townend, he was soon in front and was ridden out to score by four and three quarter lengths from Hobart.

“I think I would have won snugly if I didn’t miss the second-last, it’s a good sign that he was able to pick up again,” said Townend.

“Hopefully he can improve away and he’ll be a fun horse in both codes.”

HENRY de Bromhead also notched a double with his first winner coming courtesy of Quantum Quest (9/2), who stayed on stoutly to reel in front-runner Another Choice in the Image Furnishings Handicap Hurdle.

J.J. Slevin’s mount raced in second most of the way, before getting on top in the closing stages to record a length-and-a-quarter success.

Stable representative Robbie Power said of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede’s five-year-old: “He stepped forward from his maiden and jumped well today, which was nice to see as he didn’t jump well when he won at Kilbeggan.

“The cheekpieces probably helped as did the strong gallop over three miles, as he’s a dour stayer.”

Queen claims her throne

Cobra Queen (7/2) was the second leg of the de Bromhead double when successful in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Chase.

As she so often does, Kilashee raced into a clear lead but Darragh O’Keeffe’s mount began to close from three out and, as the front-runner tired, Cobra Queen jumped the last upsides before forging clear to beat Kilashee by eight and a half lengths.

Robbie Power said of the Matt Fitzgerald-owned six-year-old: “Fair play to Darragh, he was cool. He was happy that Kilashee had gone plenty quick enough, I wasn’t so sure in the stands.

“She’s a strong stayer who wants three miles really, so a strongly-run two-five was right up her street. She likes a bit of nice ground and, as long as it stays good, we’ll look for something similar.”

Hero’s reception

Hitthehayson (11/2) got a great reception after making a winning start for trainer Ian Donoghue in the Sweeney Oil Handicap Hurdle.

The Jukebox Jury gelding went to the front over the fifth flight for Conor Stone-Walsh and stuck on well in the closing stages to post a four and three quarter lengths win over Live To Laugh.

The winner was cheered back in by the ManAboutHorse Syndicate and Donoghue said: “Philip Rothwell said to me in Downpatrick that he was in an online sale and he would do me no harm. We took his word and we bought him. It’s the boys’ first horse with me, they are all from Wexford and they are good craic.”

HOPE She Flies (14/1), owned and trained by Brian Cawley, stepped up markedly on previous efforts when making virtually all in the Thomas A. Murray Bar Roscommon Handicap Hurdle.

Shane Fitzgerald soon had the Free Eagle mare in front and she found plenty in the home straight to beat market leader No Big Deal by three and three quarter lengths.

Fitzgerald said: “She can usually do a little bit too much. They didn’t go that quick and I was able to get everything my own way in front and it worked out well in the end.”

Making all

Walks The Talk (7/2) made all under Alex Harvey to land the Kelly Hearing Specialists Mares Maiden Hurdle. A point-to-point winner and placed in two bumpers, the six-year-old, trained by John McConnell for the Keep Er Lit Syndicate, jumped neatly on hurdling debut to beat Music of Life by five and a half lengths. Harvey said: “Hurdling is her game, especially coming out of James and Ellen Doyle’s as they are very well schooled. She’s a good mare and they paid a few quid for her, so she’d every right to do that.”

First win for Nugent

Onlyforfrankie (12/1) gave 22-year-old Clare native Evan Nugent his first winner under Rules, when taking the Connolly’s Red Mills INH Flat Race in decisive fashion. The Court Cave gelding led two furlongs out before staying on well to beat Minnatrix by six and a half lengths.

Brian McMahon trains the five-year-old for the winning rider’s mother, Yvonne.

Nugent, who picked up a five-day ban for two incidents of careless riding in the straight, said: “It’s a dream come true. I ride out for Brian, Derek O’Connor and John Staunton. Point-to-pointing is my main game, but it’s nice to get one on the track as well.”