ELLMARIE Holden made a flying start to the new National Hunt season with a double at sunny Down Royal on May Day.
His Dream sprang a 14/1 surprise in the bumper when keeping on best to beat the well backed 6/4 favourite Cornelius Sulla by half a length.
Holden said: “He got his trip and got his ground and Ray (Cody) knows him inside out. He’s working with us now, he’s riding him out every day. He gave him an absolute super ride. That’s Ray’s first winner on the track.
“I knew he was after improving since his first run. He is thriving on his work at home. We’ll keep him going for the summer but today was the plan.”
There was a sting in the tail for Cody who picked up a one-day ban for his use of the whip in the latter stages.
His Dream raced in the colours of Holden’s assistant trainer Ray Cody and his wife Gillian, the jockey’s nephew.
Holden’s double was initiated by her mother Catherine Holden’s Swantykay in the featured Daily Mirror Handicap Chase over two and a half mile handicap chase.
The 4/1 shot stayed on well on the run-in for Donagh Meyler but was all out to fend off fast-finishing Net D’Ecosse by a short-head.
Holden commented: “Donagh gave him a super ride. He probably got in there to one or two a bit close but he got there. We’ll keep him going. We’ll have to have a look at the book and make a plan then for two or three weeks’ time.
“I was worried about him getting his head in front too quickly but, in fairness to him, he did well.”
After losing out to Willie Mullins in an epic title race during the last campaign, Gordon Elliott was quickly off the mark with Gigginstown’s Ballela Boy (2/1) in the Belfast Live Hurdle over two miles, six furlongs.
The six-year-old gelding moved into the lead after the third last but was pressed by the odds-on favourite, and fellow Gigginstown horse, Bel Ami De Sivola on the run-in. However, he kept on stoutly to prevail by a couple of lengths for Davy Russell.
“We said we would have a kick at the back of the second last and have one go and thankfully it worked. There wasn’t much between the two horses, only a jump. We are off the mark thank God! He will probably go chasing through the summer,” Elliott said afterwards.
“It’s all back to work again! I had a brilliant year. Of course I was disappointed. Just to even get so close to Willie was great. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t say you were a bit deflated.
“Hopefully we’ll keep trying and get there some day. I hope it happens one year, be it this year or in five years. I’ll keep trying and keep trying to improve.”
Ornua landed a punt when cruising home in the opening Pat O’Hare Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle maiden hurdle. From 6/1 in the morning, his price tumbled to 15/8 on the off.
Henry de Bromhead’s horse travelled well before three out and readily asserted to ease home by five lengths.
Brian O’Connell, sporting John Phelan and Syed Momin’s silks, said: “I’d say he has improved a lot for better ground. He had two okay runs but on very heavy ground. I got into a nice rhythm there and he enjoyed the ground.
“He’ll step up from that and keep going forward. It was a nice performance, it mightn’t have been the strongest maiden but he couldn’t do it any more impressively than he did it.”
Eoin Doyle’s Fiesole (13/2) enjoyed his first success over jumps in the Sean Graham Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle two-mile handicap hurdle.
He closed on the leader three out and put the race away after the last as he came home by two and a quarter lengths from the favourite, Triolet.
Winning jockey Andrew Ring said: “He didn’t travel that well for me early as he is used to much slower ground. They went very quick and I was glad to get a lead down to the last and he quickened up well.”
Fiesole last tasted victory on the flat at Brighton in August 2015 for Luca Cumani.
Sandra Hughes, who recently announced she will be leaving the training ranks, had a winner on the card with Art Of Payroll.
The eight-year-old gelding, owned by the Bishopsgate Syndicate, found plenty for Denis O’Regan to take the two and a half-mile Magners Irish Cider Beginners Chase by two lengths at 5/2.
Hughes said: “It has been a long time coming for him as he has been up against some competition, but the ground is the key to him today and that’s the best he’s had. He’s a real good ground horse, he wouldn’t go on firm but the ground was lovely out there and it really suits him and he was very good.
“Denis gave him a great ride. He said he would sit third or fourth and I said his jumping would do the talking and that’s what happened.
“He needs a little bit of time in between races, we’ll find something for him. He’s up to running in handicaps, he has enough experience.”
There was a thrilling finish to the hunters chase as Jim Dreaper’s Camillas Wish (8/1) just got the better of Chosen Dream by a nose.
Lisa O’Neill did the steering and said: “She was really game, she was on song today. Tom and Jim Dreaper did their job right, they had her right at the right time. She’s a little mare and a small field suited her.
“I was quietly confident (after the last) but Chosen Dream was on the outside so you can never be too confident.”
Quiet Account, the 11/10 favourite, made a mistake at the fourth last and was quickly pulled-up. He was found to be lame post-race.
ACTING STEWARDS
R. S. Martin, L. McFerran, J.F. Gillespie, J.G. McCoy, M.F. O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
LOS ALAMOS (J.P. O’Brien): He kept on well for third, on his debut, and should be well up to winning a bumper