RUNNER-up in a novice handicap chase at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, Anyway (13/2) was back to his best on the second evening of Tramore’s August festival as he took the Seamus Byrne Electrical Steeplechase over two miles, six furlongs.

Pulled up when last seen at Punchestown in May, the Jukebox Jury gelding was close up throughout and went on under Darragh O’Keeffe approaching two out to beat More Coko by two and a quarter lengths.

The eight-year-old, who was recording his fifth victory, is owned by Kenny Haughey and Kieran T Byrne.

“He’d lost his way a little bit and the small-runner field suited him today with no hustle and bustle,” said winning trainer, Ken Budds.

“Darragh said he never felt him as well since Cheltenham. It’s a good confidence booster and he’ll come on for it too.”

Like fine wine

At the ripe old age of 13, Fr Gilligansvoyge (14/1) is in the form of his life and made all to win the I.P.R.S. Handicap Steeplechase over two miles, six furlongs.

Never out of the first four in eight outings under rules this summer, Richard Farrell’s veteran measured his fences accurately under Paddy O’Brien and stayed on well from two out to beat Set the Tone by four and three-quarter lengths.

“When I bought him as a three-year-old, someone said to me that these Yeats horses take time!” said winning trainer John Carr. “One thing that we’ve done differently this year is that we bring him to Laytown every 10 days or so, and he loves the strand.”

Doubling up

Paddy O’Brien completed a double when swooping late on Small Bucks (17/2) in the John Fairbrother Memorial Mares Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles.

Owned and trained, on the Co Armagh side of Bessbrook, by Pat Collins, the five-year-old was returning to form following a below-par run at the Galway festival and beat Rare Times by a neck to record a third win over hurdles.

“The ground in Galway was too soft for her and she didn’t act on it,” said Collins. “She needs to hear her feet rattling off the ground. The horses are running well for us at the moment.”

PETER Smithers rode his third winner of the month for owner J.P. McManus when getting Simple Things (6/4 favourite) up close home in the Majestic Hotel Maiden Hurdle.

The four-year-old daughter of Getaway was prominent throughout the extended two-mile contest and led on the run-in to beat World As One by a neck.

“She had a nice run in Galway and she learned a lot from that,” said trainer Philip Dempsey. “She’ll probably go back into handicap company now. She likes nice ground, so we’ll look for something before the rain comes.”

Willie’s in the bumper

If not bombproof, as shown by the defeat of Highland Realm at 2/5 in last year’s renewal, backing Willie and Patrick Mullins to win the Friday night bumper at this festival is pretty good as systems go, and Long’way (4/5 favourite) enhanced their record when readily taking the Clem Jacob Hire Flat Race over two miles.

Father and son Mullins have now won this race seven times in the last eight years, with all their winners starting at odds-on.

Jackie Mullins’ Galiway mare went to the front running into the dip and had four and a quarter lengths to spare over Tale Of Intrigue.

“I think I bought her as a two-year-old. She was a little immature and it all just came together in the last six weeks,” said the winning trainer.

“I just targeted Tramore, I always like having nice horses down here. I think she’s a filly that can go a long way.

“I think over hurdles she could be a blacktype filly. She could make a good novice hurdler.”

RATED just 82, the J.J. Slevin-ridden Kenny’s Jewel (17/2) proved good enough to land the Walsh Butler Electrical Mares Maiden Hurdle over two miles, five furlongs.

The Capri filly headed Room For One More, who spoiled her chance by hanging left at the last and went away to score by three lengths.

“She was working well at home and is improving, I’m delighted with her,” said winning trainer and part-owner, Mags Mullins.

“She’s been a bit backward, but is an improver and she has a lovely page. Martin Shanahan from Fishy Fishy Restaurant in Kinsale has her with me.”

Moonlight makes breakthrough

Fitted with blinkers for the first time, the Paul Nolan-trained Moonlight Paradise (12/1) made the breakthrough under rules in the Comeragh Veterinary Kilmackthomas Handicap Hurdle over two miles, five furlongs.

The daughter of Walk In The Park had them all to pass leaving the back straight on the final circuit, but made good headway on the approach to the second last and took over before the final flight to beat the never-nearer favourite Mighty Berkshire by a length and a half.

The five-year-old is owned in partnership by John Brennan, David Flynn and Danny Kearns.

“She had been keen in the past, but today she wasn’t really going for me, so I just dropped her in and took a chance,” said winning rider Eoin Staples.

“I just had one go at them and she won well in the end. It might be a little bit of a confidence booster for her.”