THE fine and bans incurred by trainer David Broad (€2,000), rider Robbie Colgan (21 days), and their charge, Definite Earl (60 days), under Rule 212, generated much of the chat as racing made its seasonal return at Ballinrobe.

Appeals are now pending after Definite Earl’s staying on two and a half-length second placing behind Admiral Brian in the Killeen Sports Grounds Rated Novice Hurdle.

Broad stated that he was “very satisfied” with Colgan’s efforts in the saddle, on an animal that returned post-race normal. Equipped with a re-applied tongue-strap, Definite Earl was “nursed home” by Colgan after he’d “squeezed and hunted the horse along throughout.” He also said his mount struggled and never travelled.

There will be much interest in the case following this week’s high-profile Noble Emperor appeal.

Admiral Brian (2/1 into 13/8 favourite) and eventual third, Ice Cool, dominated this extended two-mile, one-furlong race from the second last, with the former eventually gaining the day. The Eoin O’Connell-ridden winner put a seal on proceedings when jumping to the front at the last.

Eamonn O’Connell, father of the successful rider and trainer of Admiral Brian, said of the Know It Alls Syndicate-owned seven-year-old: “He is improving away and he got a grand ride. I think he will be a nice horse over fences.”

Broad and Colgan later enjoyed the upside of the game when Bringerofthedawn (11/4) ran away with the Costello & McDermott Maiden Hurdle.

The victorious Kutub gelding, owned by Broad’s father Albert, defeated Duke Cass by 22 lengths.

“He won a point-to-point and we’ve always thought a fair bit of him. He’s probably a chaser as he jumps hurdles big. He will go at that game during the summer now and we are looking forward to it,” stated Broad junior.

RYAN’S EVENING

Otherwise it wasn’t an evening that John Ryan will forget in a hurry either, as he saddled a 71/1 double.

Ryan owns and trains the now Punchestown bound Kylecrue (8/1). He defied top-weight under Donagh Meyler, making much of the running and holding off Fergiethelegend by three-quarters of a length in the P & D Lydon Handicap Chase.

The favourite, Coolnagorna Giggs, finished sixth, and he was reported by jockey David Mullins to have never travelled.

Earlier, in the Hollymount Nursing Home Handicap Hurdle, 7Ib claiming amateur Tom Brett rode his second racecourse winner aboard Ryan’s Mic Milano (8s into 7s).

The 8/1 chance Babanango matched at 4/5 ‘in the run’ on the betting exchanges. Unfortunately for that fellow’s connections and backers though, he crashed out at the final flight.

Like his aforementioned stable companion, Kylecrue, Mic Milano won a second race at Ballinrobe by getting the better of Duty Dance by a nose. Edmond Murphy owns the victor, and the first two left third placed Our Boy Ben 36 lengths behind.

Market-leader Long Journey Home came home a long way behind last of the nine finishers, and he was reported to be blowing hard post-race.

KATIE WALSH

The other three races went along expected lines. Presenting Percy’s performance under Katie Walsh, sent many home happy after the finale, the At The Races (Ladies Pro/Am) Flat Race.

Indications afterwards were that Presenting Percy (1/2) could now contest a winners’ bumper in search of more education before being put away. There’s plenty to look forward to with the Sir Percy five-year-old judging on this easy six-length dismissal of Carrig Cathal.

The owner and trainer of Pertemps Final Cheltenham hero, Mall Dini, Philip Renyolds and Pat Kelly, have care of Presenting Percy. He had been runner-up to Battleford (second at Cheltenham and Aintree since) on his only previous run, at Punchestown in January.

MARK WALSH

The Monroe’s Live Rated Novice Chase produced a stylish winner as well, as Vent De La Cote (11/8 into 11/10 on track and from bigger earlier) quickly shrugged aside a mistake two out to comfortably outpoint Archie Meade.

Archie Meade had endeavoured to make all, but a confident Mark Walsh merely had to shake up the J. P. McManus-owned and Martin Brassil-trained Vent De La Cote from the last.

The winning French-bred soon cruised by Archie Meade to triumph by a length with six lengths back to Captain Hox in third.

“He was probably more at home over the country style fences rather than the bigger tracks. He is ground dependent - he is a soft ground horse,” reflected Brassil.

Let Her Cry (evens) revelled with the patient tactics deployed by Brian O’Connell, to land the opening Connacht Telegraph (Mares) Maiden Hurdle.

The daughter of Westerner progressed from the back going across the far side for the final time, and the Two Plus Two Syndicate’s runner proved stronger than Isnt Dat Right from before the last, to win by four and a quarter lengths.

Winning trainer Shay Barry said afterwards: “She’s a grand tough mare but is just a bit hard on herself so that’s why we dropped her in today. The penny is beginning to drop with her. Brian said she was more relaxed today. She will keep going now.”

ACTING STEWARDS

P.J. O’Connor, N. Wachman, N. Rooney, R.Brabazon, M.F. O’Donoghue

HORSE TO FOLLOW

BABANANGO (A.J. Martin): Hopefully, the fall he took at the last, behind Mic Milano, won’t have left its mark. He should gain some compensation over his next few starts.