THE Henry de Bromhead-trained Rockonliam followed up his recent course win when taking the featured Poolcourt Engineering Handicap Chase.

Sent off 7/4 favourite, the Cheeky Pups Syndicate-owned gelding travelled into the race easily, led at the last and kept on to win by six lengths. The six-year-old is now two from two over fences and was recording his third consecutive success.

Jockey Darragh O’Keeffe reported: “We were trying this trip for the first time, but his pedigree would suggest that he would stay and, thankfully, it worked out like that. For the first mile and a half, I couldn’t ask him at any fence because if I did, he’d be getting closer and closer. I just wanted to conserve.

“Going this trip opens up plenty more options. He likes a bit of nice ground and I’m sure everyone will hatch up a plan. Hopefully, I’ll be on his back wherever he goes anyway.”

Light weight

Rightfolksplease also had favourite-backers on good terms with themselves, after taking the Boyle Sports Handicap Chase. Trained by Declan Queally, the 2/1 favourite led just after the last under Kevin Healy and kept on to score by half a length for the Who Owns That Horse Syndicate.

Queally said: “On his run the last day, with the winner following up last night, he looked thrown in. The biggest worry was it being a bit tactical, but he had no weight on his back, so even if it turned into a sprint he was going to be able to sprint a bit quicker.

“Kevin is after maturing a lot as a rider. He has done well in the last couple of weeks. He’s prepared to listen and he probably has a good future ahead of him.”

Healy later received a two-day suspension from the stewards after weight back in 1.7lb overweight.

WEST Away was successful on just his second start for Co Down trainer Pat Collins in the Wexford Racecourse Park Run Beginners’ Chase. Sent off 10/1 under Patrick O’Brien, the An Dun Racing Syndicate-owned gelding led on the run-in to post a four-and-a-half length victory.

Collins said: “He was off the track there for a long time and he just blew up the last day. Hopefully, he’ll improve again another bit.

“It was a nice run. It took him a while to warm up into that race, but he was strong at the finish. Maybe he will step up in trip the next time.”

Brilliant jumper

Beggars Rock gained his first win for Ian Donoghue when staying on best under Kevin Sexton in the handicap chase over two miles and three furlongs.

Sent off 13/2, the Beggars Cant Be Choosers Syndicate-owned gelding led at the last, before keeping on well for a four-and-a-quarter-length win.

Sexton reported: “He’s been a bit frustrating to say the least. His jumping has always been brilliant and that’s probably what won it for him there today.

“He disappointed in Galway, but that probably didn’t suit him with too much hustle and bustle. Dropped back in trip today and they went hard, so it suited him. When I was going to the second last and they weren’t getting away from me, I knew that I had a chance.”

JOHN McConnell sent out Kingside Lady to land a 33/1 upset in the opening four-year-old fillies’ maiden hurdle.

Bought for €100,000 after winning her sole point-to-point start, the Derek Kierans-owned grey disappointed on rules debut last month, but bounced back over hurdles. Alex Harvey led from three out on the Kingston Hill filly and kept her up to her work to win by two lengths.

Harvey said: “She was really disappointing in her bumper. We were shocked, to be honest.

“She probably wants further in time, but we went a good, even gallop. She jumped great, obviously coming out of winning a point-to-point. She stays going very well, that’s the one thing we know, and I’m delighted.”

Family affair

Paddy Cody rode Harpy Eagle to win the Shamrock Farm Enterprises Handicap Hurdle for his uncle Ray Cody. Sent off 4/1, the Gillian Cody-owned gelding led after two out and galloped on strongly to score by three lengths.

The winning trainer commented: “I thought he ran a bit better than where he finished the last day. He just kind of caught himself too far back, but I loved the way he finished out his race.

“He’s been very good since. We were fairly hopeful today that he’d be in the first three anyway. That’s the best he has ever jumped and travelled. Hopefully, it’s onwards and upwards with him.”

Charles and Philip Byrnes were later interviewed by the stewards after Marian Avenue was tailed off in fifth. The stewards were satisfied that Philip Byrnes was in breach of Rule 213, in that he had failed to report in the first instance to the Clerk of the Scales anything which might have affected the running of his mount and suspended him for one raceday.

Perfect start

Willie and Patrick Mullins won the concluding fillies’ bumper with debutant Alicious. Owned by Pimlico Racing Ireland, the 7/4 chance made most of the running to win by a length and a half.

Patrick Mullins said: “She was very professional. She loved that ground; I’d say it’s good to firm ground. She hopped off it. I mean, 3.42 was the time for it.

“She’s not big, so we’ll have to decide now whether we go for a winners’ bumper or go jumping with her. Delighted for the owners. Pimlico Racing, they haven’t had great luck with us previously, but they’ve been very patient and they deserved to get this.”