GAVIN Cromwell and Keith Donoghue made a quick start at Tramore last Friday with an opening race double.
Journey So Far showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the first beginners’ chase, restricted to horses rated 100 or less over hurdles.
Donoghue made all on the 11/4 favourite, in the two-mile-six-furlong contest, and the J.P. McManus-owned gelding went clear from the third last for an easy 13-length success over A Snow White Park.
Donoghue said afterwards: “He’s obviously rated higher over fences, and he was coming back into a 0-100 beginners here, so it suited.
“He’s a big horse but he handled the track well, he did it well. He jumped well and hopefully he can keep improving.”
Final scare
Endless Talking gave his supporters a scare at the final fence before justifying favouritism in the two-mile contest, for horses rated 120 or less over hurdles.
The Affinisea gelding travelled well to lead two from home, but the 11/8 shot blundered at the last, before picking up again for a two-and-three-quarter-length win over Mercury Mission.
Donoghue, in the colours of Dominic Kearns, said: “Bar the last, he jumped well and we went a good gallop. I got into it easy but when I actually let him on, he did idle a little bit in front.
“I was a bit long at the last and it was probably the first fence that I had asked him properly. He did well to find a leg.
“He’s after winning a maiden (hurdle) and a beginners’ now, so hopefully he can keep building on it.”
Magnifique for Kelly
In the other chase on the card, the two-mile handicap, Femme Magnifique made a winning start for trainer Harry Kelly.
Danny Gilligan produced the 7/1 shot with a well-timed challenge over the last fence and she stayed on well to post a four-and-a-quarter-length win over Presenting Lad.
“I’m delighted to have her. I’m very grateful that the lads, the Dillon Quirke syndicate, sent her to me,” said Kelly.
“She came from Paul Kiely’s and came in great nick. We got the rub of the green today and she was game.
“I’m delighted for the lads, it’s unfortunate for Cian (Quirke), who was due to ride her, but Danny Gilligan did a great job. He sat where he was comfortable, let her find her feet and came home well.”
THE Gordon Elliott-trained Poetic Twist made it third time lucky over timber, with a decisive success in the Success Days at Kilbarry Mares Maiden Hurdle.
The 11/10 favourite was to the fore throughout and was ridden clear over the last, by Sam Ewing, to post a two-and-three-quarter-length win over Mysilverriverfeale.
“We fancied her today and it’s nice to get her off the mark,” said Ewing of Michael Hanrahan’s mare.
“She jumped away perfect there tonight in front and I didn’t have to be too hard on her. She stayed on well and we didn’t go that slow either.”
Perfectly named
One Day In May lived up to her name when claiming the concluding bumper on the card for Robert Tyner.
Anna McGuinness took the mount in the lady riders’ event and she chased down front-runner Maptite Chipie a furlong out to record a length success on the 2/1 shot.
Keep it simple
The winning rider said afterwards: “It was a messy enough race, but the plan going out was to keep it simple and ride it as the race panned out.
“In fairness to Robert and his team, he had this mare spot on for today. I knew she was going to stay, with the point-to-point runs. She was placed in the bumper the last day in Wexford and I felt she had a great chance.
“I think she had plenty in hand. She was lugging to the left (late on) and I just kept her going hands and heels and kept her straight to the line. If something was going to come to me, I knew she’d pick up.”
ANOTHER mare to shine on the card was the Eoin Griffin-trained Splashing Out, in the Graun Hill Suite Hospitality Handicap Hurdle.
Peter Smithers was soon in front on the 6/1 shot and the J.P. McManus-owned mare went clear over the second last for an easy eight-length success over Eastmore.
“She enjoyed herself out in front and I’m delighted to get that with her,” said Griffin.
“We just decided to change things up with her. She has been frustrating to train, she’s had a few races won and kind of snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
“She did it well there and maybe with more positive tactics there might be another one in her.”
Easy winner
The preceding Tramore Handicap Hurdle over two miles five also produced an easy winner in Zolpharine.
John Ryan’s charge led on the bridle after the second last and went on to post a cosy three-and-a-half length success over Friends Of Barry.
The Yeats gelding was bagging a quick follow up win, having scored over fences at Limerick eight days previously and Ryan said: “He’s a grand horse for the summer. He’s a smasher.
“It took us so long to get him right, he got a fall schooling after he won his maiden hurdle. He looks progressive now, even though he’s an eight-year-old.He’s way better over fences, he’s tricky over hurdles, but he’s putting it together now.”