MEPHISTO’S renaissance continued in the Comeragh Veterinary Kilmacthomas Handicap Hurdle, with the Gerry Keane-trained grey defying top-weight when registering his third win in the space of eight days.

In for €8,000 when finishing last of seven in a claiming hurdle at Sligo in June, the versatile eight-year-old has gone from strength to strength since.

Sent off a 10/3 chance to follow-up on recent Wexford and Ballinrobe gains, he travelled best under Shane Fitzgerald approaching two out and soon joined the front-running Clonbury Bridge.

Gaining an outright advantage before the last, he was nudged out on the run-in and readily increased his lead, easing to a four-and-a-quarter-length win in the colours of the Restricted Movement Syndicate.

“He is a lovely horse at home, but he’s just a pure rogue,” Keane quipped. “He won very easy today so maybe he will go to the next grade over hurdles, but there are loads of options for him.”

Close finish

There was a much closer conclusion to the Assembly Tech Mares Handicap Hurdle, with Tingarran Express (7/1) holding off the late surge of Polly Poppins.

Trained by Denise O’Shea and owned by the ISE Express Syndicate, the 98-rated victor led after the first and soon skipped a few lengths clear.

Jumping well throughout under Simon Torrens, she was ridden before the last and, while her advantage was eroded on the run-in, she just lasted it out to prevail by a head.

“She’s been an absolute star and she’ll probably go over a fence now. She is very small, but does pop a fence very well,” O’Shea revealed.

“Karen O’Brien, who was a cousin of mine, organised this horse for the owners before she passed away in 2023. Karen was an incredibly special person and I wouldn’t have Tingarran without her.”

BEATING Patrick Mullins in a driving finish on a horse owned and trained by your grandfather - as debut rides go, it couldn’t have been much sweeter for 17-year-old Jamie Martin.

Alaskan View is the horse that will forever hold a special place in the hearts of the Martin family, with this 10/1 chance getting the better of Highland Realm (2/5 favourite) in the concluding Majestic Hotel INH Flat Race.

Second in this very contest 12 months ago, the bay victor was always towards the head of affairs and, after a lengthy tussle with the market leader, there was half-a-length between them at the line.

“I thought I was dreaming for a second,” the Enniscorthy pilot enthused.

“I’m just so grateful to have the likes of my father Mick and grandfather Willie to give me the opportunity. I’m going into fifth year in a few weeks, and the plan was if I won this that I’d retire with a 100% strike rate, but I think I’ll have to keep going now.”

Very likable

The first two also drew clear of their rivals in the I.P.R.S. Handicap Chase, with Danny Howard’s Likable Chancer (16/1) ultimately coming out on top.

Prominent throughout under Daniel King, the admirable 11-year-old was locked together with Bondi Boy Blue on the approach to the last and, after a protracted duel, there was just a nose separating them at the death.

“He is a deadly spin and is a super jumper. He was good and tough and needed to be,” King reflected.

Owner Annette Daffy added: “It seems like he has been with us forever. We bought him eight years ago at the Derby Sale and he’s never let us down.”

THE first part of a double for Darragh O’Keeffe, Caesar Rock put in an exhibition of jumping when making the breakthrough on his 23rd start over fences in the Seamus Byrne Electrical Chase.

Leading his rivals a merry dance from the outset, the Mouse Morris-trained nine-year-old was ridden before the last and kept up the gallop all the way to the line, coming home three-quarters of a length to the good.

Owned by Michael and John O’Flynn, the 5/1 chance beat Dark Note (5/4 favourite) into second, reversing recent Tipperary form with that rival. “He jumped brilliant and loved the nice ground,” O’Keeffe disclosed.

“There was just four runners and the favourite (Spanish Harlem) coming out was a help. Mouse just said to do whatever and we thought we might be able to get to the front and jump away, it worked out great. He likes dictating and bossing things.”

Captain in command

O’Keeffe completed his brace on Captain Ryan Matt in the Little Darlings Child Care Maiden Hurdle, with this 117-rated bay easily accounting for eight rivals.

A runner-up at Punchestown and Gowran earlier in the year, the Henry de Bromhead-trained five-year-old was returned the 8/13 favourite in the colours of Derek Coles and family.

Settled in second behind the front-running Penny Express, he improved to lead approaching two out and soon skipped clear, ultimately coasting to a nine-length win.

“When I rode him the last two times he ran well, but the ground was quite testing both days and we thought he’d appreciate nicer ground, and he has today,” O’Keeffe explained. “Hopefully he can build on this.”

Corral gets it done

Another market leader did the needful in the Walsh Butler Electrical Mares Maiden Hurdle, with the well-supported Kilmore Corral justifying 3/1 favouritism (from 8s early) in the colours of Anthony Creane.

The winner of a point-to-point at Stradbally in April when in the care of Conor Ryan, the Sam Curling-trained five-year-old raced in mid-division under Phillip Enright, taking closer order from three out.

Poised to challenge in second before the next, she was ridden to the front approaching the final flight, keeping on well in the closing stages to hold off Charity Barnum by three-quarters of a length.

“We fancied her well, it was a low-grade race and her point-to-point form was good,” Curling divulged. “I don’t know where she’ll go after this, we’ll see what the handicapper does. She got the job done today and that’s the main thing.”