O’DRISCOLL’S Irish Whiskey sponsored every race at this well-attended SETU Student Raceday, with spring sunshine resulting in drying ground, which was officially described as good to yielding.

Four of the 11 declared were taken out of the opening claiming hurdle due to the change in going, with Gavin Cromwell’s Tell Us This (7/2) proving much the best under Eoin Staples.

Taking closer order in third with a circuit to go, the Old School Syndicate-owned seven-year-old travelled best to lead before two out and soon extended his advantage, easing to a 12-length win.

“He has been consistent at a level all season and, back down in grade today, I suppose he was entitled to win,” Cromwell said.

There was just one successful claim in the aftermath, with Andrew McNamara securing the winner for €7,000.

Fine Finegan ride

McNamara later saddled 3/1 favourite Might Be The One in the mares’ handicap hurdle but she ultimately had to settle for the runner-up berth.

Improving to lead after the second, Lady Bluebird maintained her advantage for the remainder of the race and drew clear from two out to score by 13 lengths. Owned and trained by Hugh Finegan and ridden by his nephew Eoghan, the 18/1 shot sported first-time blinkers.

“We’ve been very disappointed with her because she was a good mare early on,” the winning rider said. “She just had a few little niggly problems and we have them all ironed out now. I think she can go on from this.”

Back in form

There was further family success in the handicap hurdle over two miles, with Just For One finishing with a flourish to deny the front-running Liberated Light.

Trained by Donie Murphy for Geraldine Murphy and ridden by their son James, the Affinisea five-year-old still had plenty to do on the downhill run from three out. Fifth from the next and continuing his forward momentum, the 14/1 chance ultimately got to the front on the run-in and came home a length and three quarters clear.

“That’s my second track winner; I had my first on Winter Fog [April 2021],” Murphy said. “His last two runs were disappointing, but we knew he was back in good form and he stayed on well up the hill.”

MARKING his 20th birthday in style, Luke Turner guided I Walked The Line (4/11f) to a facile success in the concluding hunters’ chase. Successful on his first start for Willie Mullins in January and since acquired by Paul Byrne, the Walk In The Park five-year-old was strongly supported from early shows of 6/4.

Making all, he overjumped the fourth and almost unseated Turner, who briefly lost his irons. The pair had no problems thereafter and ultimately sauntering to a 17-length win.

“I picked up a ban at Cheltenham, so I was delighted to give Luke a chance and he took it with both hands,” Patrick Mullins said.

“He is a good horse and I’m hoping he’ll be an Aintree/Cheltenham horse next year. We might go to Stratford with him at the end of May.”

Hayes capitalises on drama

Mullins’ other representative on the card, Drop A Threat (5/4f), disappointed in the beginners’ chase, where there was a dramatic conclusion, with outsiders Black Soul and River Tara falling independently two out when in a share of the lead.

The third horse Warriors Wood was badly hampered and unseated, leaving Ira Hayes (9/2 from 8s), who appeared held in fourth, clear.

Danny Mullins ultimately guided the chesnut to a 10-length win in the silks of the Ira Hayes Partnership.

“We got our bit of luck and I’m delighted for the lads, they’ve been very patient with him,” said winning trainer John McConnell.

“He hit the line quite well; he wasn’t tired or anything. Danny said that up in trip you’ll see a better horse.”

LAKE Chad (9/1) registered a fourth course win and quashed any talk of retirement, as he brushed aside 11 rivals in the 0-100 rated handicap chase.

In front from the sixth and soon skipping a few lengths clear under Niall Moore, the likeable grey saw his advantage reduced after three out, but he went on again from the next, easing to an 11-length win.

“He is 11 and we were talking about retiring him if he didn’t perform today, but we’ll have to go for another one now,” Philip Fenton said of the Eileen Moore-owned winner.

“He’ll stay going over fences and when he calls time, we’ll call time.”

Pricey purchase

Henry de Bromhead’s Time Is A Thief also had 11 lengths to spare, with the Syders and Burkes Partnership-owned chesnut taking the second divide of the maiden hurdle under Darragh O’Keeffe.

Bought for £130,000 after finishing second in a point-to-point, the Doyen six-year-old was a final-flight faller on rules debut in December. Drifting from 10/11 to 13/8 late on and the second choice of punters, he was always towards the head of affairs and had matters under control from two out.

“He is a lovely horse and did it nicely. It’s our first winner for the owners,” de Bromhead commented.

“The first-time hood seemed to help him a lot, as he was just a bit keen in Cork the last day.”

Off the mark

Despite some sloppy jumps, the Denis Hogan-trained Crooked Path (8/11f) took the opening divide of this two-mile heat.

Always prominent, the Raymond Treacy-owned chestnut got a dream run through on the inner approaching two out and soon led, before being ridden close home to score by a length and a half.

“He has had plenty of runs and gained plenty of experience,” winning rider Daniel King reported.

“It probably wasn’t the strongest of races on paper and we are just glad he got his head in front. Hopefully he can build on this.”