HERMINO AA bounced back to form in some style at Roscommon on Monday, when running out a cosy winner of the Tote.ie Connacht National for Eric McNamara.

Well-beaten on recent runs for the Limerick handler, the Patrick Lynch and Fiona Loftus-owned gelding had attracted support in the three-mile-one contest, going to post 11/1 having been as big as 28/1. Tom Kelly gave the nine-year-old a confident ride, as he led turning for home and asserted over the second last to post a four-and-a-quarter length win over Kings Hill.

Representing his father on track, Conor McNamara said: “He’s a grand horse. He came from England last year and took a little while to find his form and he’s come down a little bit in the handicap as well.

“He had the blinkers on today and back at a summer track, over an easier fence, he put it all together.

“He had a lovely low weight and Tom Kelly gave him a brilliant ride. Tom is in with us two days a week and he’s a very good rider.”

Defy the odds

McNamara went on to land a double on the card when Kilkee Bay took the amateur handicap chase at odds of 20/1. Joey Dunne came from off the pace to lead over the last and post a four-and-three-quarter-length win. Conor McNamara said: “He came from Gordon (Elliott’s) a while back and he’s been disappointing a couple of times.

“Joey said they went a real good gallop and I’d say it played to a late closer. He gave him a brilliant ride. Hopefully, he might get a bit of confidence and build on that now.”

CIARAN Murphy recorded the first double of his training career, courtesy of Wild Bill Hickok and Soldante.

Workahead went to post a 1/3 shot in the McGowan Accountant Services Novice Chase, but proved no match for the Patrick Sheanon-owned four-year-old Wild Bill Hickok (9/2). Eoghan Finegan’s mount led on the bridle after the second last in the two-miler and soon asserted for a comprehensive four-and-three-quarter-length success.

“I’d say a bit of juice in the ground today helped him,” Murphy said. “It was as quick as he wanted it both times in Wexford, but we felt the second time we had to run him for experience.

“Obviously we didn’t think we’d beat the favourite, and turn that form around, but we knew with juice in the ground he’d get close.

“The idea was always the Grade 3 novice in Galway and he has lots of experience now going there.”

Happy trainer

Soldante completed the brace when landing the Sweeney Oil Handicap Chase under another 7lb-claimer, Kevin Healy. The 10/1 shot led three from home, asserted over the next to record a five-length win -.

“He has been consistent in his few runs,” said Murphy, who trains the gelding for Pat and David McCormack and Sarah Glynn.

“The ground was a factor for him and he got it today. I’m very pleased with the horse. He did it lovely, jumped beautifully. He’s been a good servant and I’m very happy to win over fences with him.”

Two from two

The Willie Mullins-trained Linford justified 11/10 favouritism in the concluding Roscommon Livestock bumper, when pulling away late on.

Patrick Mullins led early in the straight on the Dr Peter FitzGerald-owned four-year-old and he found more in the closing stages to assert for a five-and-a-half-length win.

The winning rider said: “He’s a bit lazy, but he always brings out his best at the end of the race. He doesn’t flash at home and who knows how good he could be.

“We’ll see now whether he goes for the winner’s bumper in Galway or if he goes jumping.”

CINATING (13/8 favourite) put a fall behind her to open her hurdling account with a cosy success in the opening Garvey’s Bar Maiden Hurdle. Kevin Sexton led from the second flight and the Gordon Elliott-trained filly kept on strongly in the closing stages to score by four-and-a-quarter lengths.

PJ Colville, racing manager for owner/breeder Newtown Anner Stud, said: “She was a bit unlucky the last day in Ballinrobe, but that just put her right for today. The idea was to get her to win a maiden and we’ll see what Gordon wants to do now. We’ll plan away and head for summer tracks like Killarney and Galway.”

Select field

Elliott completed a quick double when Chanceawetmorning ran out a facile winner of the three-runner McNulty Furniture Rated Novice Hurdle. The 13/8 shot claimed market leader Polepatrick (even-money) turning for home and was soon clear as he posted an easy 23-length success in the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

Smith, carrying the colours of Conor McGlone, reported: “It was like a bit of work for him and he did everything very easily.

“Coming out of the back, I gave him a kick in the belly and he just locked on. I didn’t want to go upsetting him, so I just let him stride on and he winged the last three.”

Galway goal

Smith and Elliott found one too good in the Dermot Hughes Car Sales Handicap Hurdle, of which Sequoiaspirit ran out a stylish winner for Ray Hackett.

The nine-year-old led two from out under Alan O’Sullivan and was soon clear as he posted a six-and-a-half-length success over Stede Bonnet.

“He’s a great little horse, he tries hard,” said Hackett. “That’s only his second win over hurdles, but he’s been in the money more often than not. He’s a fun horse and we’re lucky to have him

“I might go back to Galway with him, over hurdles. He ran a blinder there last year.”