THERE were doubles for rising star Jack Kennedy and his boss Gordon Elliott on a night of high drama at Bellewstown on Thursday. The pair teamed up for success with Water Sprite in the Bellinter House Classic (Mares) Hurdle but the race was overshadowed by the fatal fall of 1/5 favourite Muthaza.

Ruby Walsh eventually walked away from the fourth flight fall but was reported to be stiff and sore following the incident. 10/1 shot Water Sprite eventually overcame Colla Pier on the run-in for a three-and-a-half length success in the two-mile, one-furlong contest.

“She’s a grand honest filly. We were very fortunate that the favourite came down,” said Elliott.

“Luckily Ruby is alright, but the filly is not so it’s a bit of a disaster.

“You kind of have to take on those horses sometimes. It just shows there is no such thing as a certainty and we were there to pick up the pieces. She’ll go to Listowel for the Ladbrokes Hurdle.”

Kennedy came in for plenty of praise half an hour later when swooping late on Black Label in the Niall MacMahon Memorial Handicap Hurdle. The Ado McGuinness-trained gelding flew home on the run-in to grab Konig Hall close home for a head success at odds of 5/1.

“He likes good ground and has been running well. He was probably unlucky not to win at Galway,” said McGuinness, who handles the gelding for owner Dan Daly.

“I don’t think he stayed the two-and-a-half the last day when he ran with the choke out. I told Jack to drop in and bide his time. He’s different gravy this guy. He’s in a different league and is a serious rider. I didn’t give him a whole pile of instructions. He went down the paint and bided his time.

“He’s in again on Monday at Roscommon. It’s two-and-a-half but I put him in again just in case. We’ll have to see what Mr O’Brien says. He’ll definitely go to Listowel and eventually, he’s a serious horse over a fence so has a good future hopefully.”

ELLIOTT DOUBLE

Elliott completed his brace in the concluding Woods Financial (Ladies) (Pro-Am) Flat Race when Stolen Diamond ran out a cosy winner. Katie O’Farrell, wearing her father Seamus’ colours, sent the 15/8 favourite into the lead three furlongs from home and he galloped on strongly in the closing stages for a six-length success.

“He’s a nice horse - a big galloping horse,” said Elliott. “That’s our first horse for Seamus and I’m delighted for Katie. She has been riding out for us for a while and rides out a couple of days a week.

“No-one deserves it more. She’s a good rider and hopefully we’ll be able to give her a few more rides.” Elliot made it three winners on the day when Lilywhite Gesture justified favouritism under Richard Johnson in the last at Sedgefield.

There was an international flavour to the opening TheTote.com Maiden Hurdle with American Jeannie Cook partnering her first winner ‘on the track’ in Ireland. The New York native teamed up with fiance Paul Power, who was also enjoying his first training success, as Bakers Street edged a good battle.

Cook had the 8/1 shot prominent throughout in the two-mile, one-furlong event and after being headed two from home he battled back gamely on the run-in to get the better of Ard Na Carraig by a head.

“I’m originally from Rochester in New York but I’ve been living over here since 2009,” said Cook afterwards. “I rode three winners on the flat in America and when I came over to Ireland I took out an amateur licence and have been tipping away.

“That’s my first winner on the track and I’ve had three in point-to-points. It’s a first winner for the trainer and jockey so it’s a great day.

“I work for Henry de Bromhead in the mornings and then help out my fiance Paul Power in the afternoons.

“He (Bakers Street) was brilliant and loved the ground today. The last day it was really tough ground as it rained all day.”

HOGAN’S WINNER

Big Bad Brian ran out a convincing winner of the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Maiden Hurdle for trainer/jockey Denis Hogan. The 7/2 shot challenged two from home and he went on from Static Jack going to the last in the three-miler to record a five-and-a-half length success.

“He’s owned by neighbours of mine. They are a great bunch of lads and it’s great to get a winner for them,” said Hogan.

“They bought him in the November sales in 2014. They’ve went the journey so it’s good to repay them. He’s been third in a Galway bumper and second to Bel Sas here so they were two very good runs. Today he jumped super. That’s my third winner in three days. They are all running well so long may it last.” The winner is owned by Moneygall men Michael Hayes and John Tierney.

The newly married Davy Russell was back to work on Top Of The Town in the Hibernia Steels Products Handicap Hurdle as the 7/4 favourite ran out a cosy winner. The Craigsteel gelding, who had famously been part of the treble landed by Charles Byrnes at Roscommon, went on after the third last in the three-miler to record a four-and-a-quarter length win.

“He did it well and jumped very well. I’d say the nicer ground helped him and hopefully he can progress from here,” said Byrnes. Regarding the gambled treble he said: “I’d say it’s been slightly exaggerated but the paper never refuses ink. The treble paid over 4000/1 so you didn’t need to have an awful lot on.”

OUTBATTLED

King’s Wharf was all the rage to complete his four-timer in the At The Races Mullacurry Cup Handicap Hurdle but was outbattled on the run-in by Wildcatted.

The even-money favourite looked set to collect when heading Michael McDonagh’s charge on the run-in but the Shirocco gelding responded well for Mark Enright in the closing stages to get back up for a neck success at 10/1.

“We thought he’d run well in Galway but it didn’t work out well for him. He missed the start, got well back and then got hampered when he tried to come through,” said assistant trainer James Ivors. “He got his day today, thank God. Mark gave him a great ride and he battled back well. I was a little concerned about the two-and-a-half but he showed that he wants every yard of it.”

HORSE TO FOLLOW

STOLEN DIAMOND (G. Elliott): Looked a nice sort when taking the bumper and can be placed to land a winners’ contest.

ACTING STEWARDS

P. Reynolds, W. Flood, P. Law, B. Fitzsimons and P.D. Matthews