EXACTLY 10 years to the day since signing off on a winner at this Graun Hill venue, Enjoy The Dream (16/5) aptly marked the occasion for Andrew McNamara in the opening four-runner Bar One Racing Rated Novice Chase.

The first part of a double for Brian Hayes, the Andrew Heffernan-owned six-year-old took over in front when Ma Belle Etoile (5/6 favourite) blundered at the third, with that one subsequently trailing home in rear.

Jumping well throughout, the grey victor kept up the gallop when ridden on the run-in and saw off the effort of Luminous Light by three lengths.

“She seemed to settle a bit better today and jumped better because of that,” McNamara reflected. “Dr Heffernan likes the flat and she’s highly rated on it, so we could have a go on that before the end of the season.”

Double up

Out of the great Solerina, Hayes completed his brace on Faceman (11/8 favourite from 15/8) in the Tramore Directors Rated Novice Hurdle, with just three lining up for this extended two-and-a-half-mile heat.

Owned and bred by John Bowe, the 111-rated bay attempted to make all but was joined by Time In A Bottle on the approach to two out. While neither were foot perfect at the last, the Harry Kelly-trained victor soon regained a narrow lead and was a neck in front at the line.

“We think he’ll get better in time. I think he is still only a shell of a horse,” Kelly divulged. “Everything happened kind of wrong for him today, he ran off the bend and missed the last, but he’s tough.”

PROVIDING John McConnell with his sixth win in less than a fortnight, Hasten Slowly (12/1) claimed the feature Bluegrass Horse Feeds Handicap Hurdle.

Successful at this very fixture 12-months ago, the Kessaar five-year-old tracked the leaders under Alex Harvey and arrived with her challenge between horses approaching the bypassed final flight.

Soon sweeping to the front, she increased her advantage in the closing stages and came home a length and three quarters to the good in the colours of the 119 Partnership.

“She just seems to grow a leg around here. She’s a handy filly and goes like a motorbike around the bends,” Harvey enthused. “They got away from me coming down the hill the last time, but we tipped along, and I was happy enough to come with one rattle.”

Pushing on

Silent Selector was another to oblige at double-figure odds, with this 18/1 chance bouncing back to form in the Waterford Castle Resort Style Evening Handicap Hurdle.

Failing to complete in three outings since his breakthrough win at Limerick in April, the Ger O’Leary-trained five-year-old led for much of the race under Sean Flanagan.

Joined by Inchidaly Copper (5/1 favourite) before two out, he regained an outright advantage over the last and kept on best under pressure in the closing stages, holding off the market leader by a head.

“I was a bit baffled after his last couple of runs, but I suppose he was back down in grade today,” O’Leary said of the Lads & Eoin Syndicate-owned bay.

“I only have the two to race and they own me nothing at this stage. It would be great to get more horses, that’s the aim really, to try and push on.”

Champo the champ

Flanagan had to settle for fourth on 2/1 favourite Mic Drop in the O’Neill’s Bar Beginners Chase, with El Champo (3/1) proving much the best under Simon Torrens.

After dominating with the market leader from flag fall, the Philip Rothwell-trained victor drew clear from three out and ultimately sauntered to a 30-length win in the colours of Oliver Barden.

“I think David O’Brien’s horse (Mic Drop) who went with him helped him massively today. He kept him company to get an easy lead,” Rothwell explained. “He is a horse that wants an ease in the ground and the track have done an amazing job here to make it safe for everybody.”

THIRD in this year’s Champion Hurdle, Winter Fog opened his account on the level in the concluding Join Us For Hurling For Cancer Research Supported By Centra 18th August (Ladies) Maiden.

Second in this very contest 12 months ago, the Willie Mullins-trained 11-year-old was widely expected to go a place better this time round and was returned the 8/13 favourite.

Getting a dream run through on the inner from the two-furlong pole and soon in a share of the lead with The Banger Doyle, the pair had a protracted tussle thereafter, with just a short-head between them at the post.

Claiming this race for the second year in a row, Aine O’Connor donned the silks of The Triple Lock Partnership and was registering her first win for Mullins.

“I’d be good friends with Aine and I know the owners fairly well, so Jody (Townend) very kindly let me put Aine on her,” Patrick Mullins explained.

“It’s great for him to get his head in front because he’s hard to place but always runs his race. He has been a magic horse and tries very hard.”

Orla Queally, rider of the runner-up, later picked up a two-day ban for failing to give her mount sufficient time to respond to the whip.

King rolls with it

In the colours of the Final Reminder Syndicate, Tatateo (2/5) was another to justify odds-on favouritism, but he too was made to work hard for his win in the Oasis At The Races Acquiesce Friday August 15th Maiden Hurdle.

Racing in second for much of this four-year-old only contest, the Denis Hogan-trained bay ran off the bend approaching the straight and was struggling to get on terms with the front-running Louiescall on the approach to the last.

Blundering at that obstacle, the latter was soon headed and couldn’t regain the momentum lost, ultimately going down by three quarters of a length.

“I think I would have caught the one in front either way. When my lad hit the front, he was half idling,” winning rider Daniel King revealed.