DONAGH O’Connor picked up a winning spare ride on the Ross O’Sullivan-trained Chally Chute in the Listed Watch Racing TV Irish EBF Lenebane Stakes at Roscommon on Tuesday evening.

Despite being sent off an unconsidered 125/1 outsider, the Julie White-owned gelding stayed on best to win by a length and a half from Cheeky Wink (14/1).

He’s thought to be the biggest priced blacktype winner on the flat in Ireland for some time. The last triple-figure priced stakes winner on the flat here was Bill Farrell’s Ramone, who won the Group 3 Park Express Stakes at 100/1 in 2015. That was the first 100/1 group race winner on the flat in Ireland since Miss Therese won the Blandford for Pat Lally in 1973.

“It’s absolutely brilliant,” said O’Sullivan. “He obviously came to us from Mick (Halford). He’s been entered a couple of times for different races, but he loves a dig in the ground. The rain came last night and that suited us great.

“Unfortunately for Jamie (Powell), he’s out but Donagh is in to us twice a week and I’m delighted for him. I’m delighted for Julie and Dominic, who own him, as they bred him and he’s like a member of the family. He might go to Galway, but we’ll see.”

Big milestone for Hayes

Chris Hayes rode the 1,000th Irish winner of his career when guiding the Joseph O’Brien-trained Starford to victory in the Conor Cassidy Car Sales Handicap. With Dylan Browne McMonagle suspended, Hayes came in for the late spare ride.

Sent off 6/5 favourite, the Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd-owned gelding scored easily by four and a quarter lengths from Coulstys Way (5/1). Hayes said: “He’s a lovely straightforward horse and I’d say he’ll improve again. It’s a pleasure to be in the hat to be getting those types of rides. Unfortunate circumstances, but it’s nice when you get to sit up on nice horses for Joseph.

“I’m delighted I was able to ride my 1,000th winner for him. I’ve been keeping an eye on it and I think it’s something to be proud of in Irish racing, if you can do it. (The first winner was) back in 2004 on the Friday of Bellewstown, so I’m two days short of doing it in 21 seasons. It’s something I’m proud of. I said I’d retire when I get to a thousand so I’ll have to see what I do now!”

Dreams opens a brace

That milestone success was completing a double for Hayes, who had earlier teamed up with boss Dermot Weld to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden with Beyond Dreams.

Sent off 1/1 favourite, the Michael Tabor-owned three-year-old led close home for a comfortable half-length win from Sweet Bay (5/1).

Kris Weld said: “She’s a lovely filly, just a little bit rusty on her first start of the year. Chris said from a furlong down that he always thought he was going to get there. She showed a really good attitude and she’s a lovely kind filly. We’ll go and look for a nice fillies’ handicap for her next. She’ll enjoy going a mile.”

ORIGINALLY booked to ride Chally Chute, Jamie Powell, who was stood down following a fall, also missed the winning ride on Thatwilldoso in the Sean Cleary Memorial Handicap. Rather appropriately, Rory Cleary stepped in to take the mount on the Kevin Coleman-trained filly. Owned by the Thatwilldoso Syndicate, the 9/1 chance finished with a late flourish to win by a length and a quarter from Stormie Outlook (8/1). Cleary, who was winning the race named in honour of his late brother for a third time, said: “It’s a nice spare to get, especially for that race. It was nice. Out of the back straight I didn’t think I’d be in the firing line at all, but when I got into the home straight and got a bit of light she rallied home really well. It’s a while since I won the race and I wouldn’t mind winning it again.”

Check out this winner

Colin Keane won the opening Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden on the Noel Meade-trained Check This Out. Sent off 15/2, the Tony O’Gorman-owned colt beat 2/5 favourite Sound Bite by a neck. “That man is worth his weight in gold and it’s great to have him,” said Meade. “He actually travelled really well today and he said when he got there, he didn’t really know what he was doing either.

“He should improve a little bit, I hope, and he’s still growing. It’s nice to win for that man (O’Gorman) because he sent me three two-year-olds. He also owns two four-year-olds with me.”

CLEVER And Classy made most under Declan McDonogh to win the Shanagher Hearing Handicap for Jim Bolger. Owned by Mrs Marguerite Bolger and Mrs J S Bolger, the 13/2 chance kept on well to win by three-quarters of a length from 3/1 favouite Star Mind.

Travelling head lad Ger Flynn said: “She was unlucky one day in Gowran (finished second) when we thought she was home. Declan rode her on her last start at Leopardstown. He jumped out and made the running on her, she got took on a little bit early but finished fourth and ran a good race. It’s great for Marguerite, Anne-Marie and Ken and the whole lot of them down in Wexford for her to win in the colours of the late Paddy Bolger.”

Sky Captain won the concluding Jimmy Murray Agri Services Maiden for Billy Lee and Paddy Twomey. Despite drifting to 3/1 (from 6/4), the Joseph Joyce-owned gelding stayed on well close home to register a neck victory. “He was good and green on debut there. He’s a nice horse and I thought coming here he’d run a good race and I’m very happy with how it went,” said Twomey. “The dam won the Guineas and it’s nice to have him.”