IN the colours of J.P. McManus, Hey Now (15/8 favourite) travelled smoothly for Aidan Kelly on his way to victory in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle over just short of two miles, two furlongs.

Always close to the pace, he headed Lilac Lady after the second last and had three and three-quarter lengths to spare over that rival at the line.

Trainer Andrew McNamara said: “I have nine in full work at the moment and three of them have won in the last 10 days or so! This is my first winner for Mr McManus. He’s big and babyish, but a good mover and well balanced, so he handled the track well.

“We ran him on heavy ground during the winter, but I’d say he wants it somewhere in between the extremes. He’s by Yorgunnabelucky, who seems to get a lot of horses who travel well, and hopefully he’ll be a nice two-miler who should jump a fence in time.”

Easy win

On her first start since August, Beir Bua (3/1 joint favourite) was another winner for in-form trainer Andy Slattery, when easily landing the DecoClip Construction Mares Maiden Hurdle over just short of two miles, two furlongs.

Kenneth Keogh’s five-year-old by Berkshire went clear from two out and, despite a slight mistake at the last, came home 11 lengths clear of Lumiere Du Large.

Winning rider Cian Quirke said: “She has improved physically over the winter and is a more relaxed mare now. She made a couple of bad mistakes when she was second at Kilbeggan last year.

“I was conscious of that going to the last and she galloped through it, but she was clever and found her legs. The ground is on the easy side of good, and she wouldn’t want it any slower than that, she needs good ground.”

BOWGATE Street (4/1), trained in Ballinrobe by Michael Flannery, carried the green and red silks of Oron Construction Services Limited to success in the Rosses Point Caravan Park Handicap Hurdle.

The daughter of Champs Elysees had been first past the post over this two-and-a-quarter-mile trip here in October 2024, but lost that race subsequently due to the presence of a prohibited substance.

Here, after a creditable third at Kilbeggan on her previous outing, she was sent for home after the second last and stayed on well to hold late-closer Blue Moon Boy by two and a quarter lengths.

Jockey Philip Donovan said: “She was in good form today and I was under pressure to hold onto her. I got there a bit soon, because I didn’t want something coming back on top of me, and she doesn’t do a lot in front.”

Owner Owen Roe O’Neill added: “She’s had wind problems and back problems. Michael has had great patience with her and has put so much work into her. She’s small, but she’s a real galloper, and is a credit to Michael.”

Spectacular success

With Jack Kennedy sore after a fall at Killarney the previous evening, Sam Ewing came in for a winning spare ride aboard 1/5 favourite Speculateur in the Enda McGoldrick, Plant & Agri Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Trained for Robcour by Gordon Elliott, the No Risk At All grey was prominent throughout and went on from two out to beat Tradonthebay by a facile five lengths.

“It was very plain sailing,” said Ewing. “He’d a good few placed efforts in nice maidens. This level of competition wasn’t of the same standard, and he made light work of it. He’s a super jumper and hopefully can go on from this.”

FOR Galway connections, The Eggler (13/2) took the Johnston Farm Equipment Handicap Hurdle over two miles, four furlongs.

The Brian McMahon-trained gelding came from well off the pace to lead jumping the last and held the challenge of Love Like This by half a length.

Winning rider James Smith said: “He can be a bit lit up and I was happy to take my time on him.

“Brian is very good to me and lets me ride a lot of his. He’s a good trainer and well able to get one ready.”

The Hillstar gelding is owned by the Horses and Hurling Syndicate, which includes breeder Kevin Fahey, Joe and Tim Gleeson and hurling and Gaelic football manager, Anthony Cunningham.

“We’ll give him a break now, and hopefully head to Galway for the festival,” said syndicate member, Tim Gleeson.

Mr Dibbs (8/1) passed the stamina test of the Solar Generation Handicap Hurdle, over almost three and a quarter miles, with first-time blinkers working the oracle.

The Sam Curling-trained seven-year-old, owned by Derrymartin Bloodstock Limited, had a good tussle with Evans Secret on the run-in and got home by a neck.

Beneficial blinkers

Winning rider, Michael Kenneally reflected: “Sam put a pair of blinkers on him and it made all the difference. He travelled sweetly, jumped well and was game to the line.

“I wasn’t surprised to see Phillip (Enright, on Evans Secret) arrive upsides me, he rode this lad the last day and doesn’t miss much!”

Trained by Willie Mullins for Gigginstown House Stud, In A Sonnet (11/10 favourite) got off the mark in the bumper over just short of two miles, two furlongs.

On his second outing, Patrick Mullins produced the Poet’s Word five-year-old to lead straightening for home and he went away to beat Bravewave by four lengths.

“He disappointed on very soft ground at Navan. He’s a good-ground horse, and showed a good attitude there,” said the winning rider. “He jumps well at home, and I could see him going out in trip in time.”