A MORNING inspection passed, and the fifth last hurdle and fence omitted, Down Royal’s Wednesday meeting went ahead much to the delight of a trio of trainers from the northern region.

First up was Liam Lennon as Benarty Hill (8/1) ran out a good winner for his Newry yard in the Down Royal Handicap Chase.

The 7lb claimer Adam Short, donning the black and green silks of Lennon, impressed with his patient handling of the September Storm gelding in this two-and-a-half-miler.

Getting off the mark at the 21st time of asking on the racecourse proper, the former point-to-point scorer here accounted for Goldmineinthesky (3/1 favourite) by 11 lengths.

“It’s very testing out there and, in fairness, Adam took his time with him. He said they went a good gallop so he was in no panic,” reflected Lennon. “He just had a few wee issues last year.”

Ryan Treacy reported that Killare Castle (6/1) made mistakes at the first two fences and didn’t handle the ground. That fellow eventually pulled up before the second last.

Half an hour on, it was appropriate to have a local winner of the Robert McCoubrey Handicap Chase with the J.J. Taylor-owned and bred Blue Empyrean prevailing. McCoubrey, a leading figure in northern Irish bookmaking for more than four decades, died at the age of 69 in November.

This result would have been a pleasing outcome for his former colleagues in the ring as Blue Empyrean drifted from 2/1 in early trading out to a returned 11/2.

SNOW

Snow at Co Armagh trainer Keith Watson’s base, meant that Blue Empyrean mightn’t have gotten as much work as he’d normally do, since a Naas win 24 days earlier.

Pre-race fitness concerns weren’t borne out with the Andrew Ring-ridden Generous gelding jumping the last very well before getting the better of fellow northern runners, Ardmillan and Angus Milan. Two and three-quarter lengths and two and a quarter lengths split them at the line.

Watson’s son Marshall commented afterwards: “He saw it out the whole way to the line and he jumps terribly well. Hopefully he can be competitive in a better grade.”

Another Armagh horse, Our Boy Boru, took the honours in the Bet With The Tote Handicap Hurdle for the Strawberry Bar Nua Syndicate and John Woods.

This win for Robbie Colgan’s mount, a 5/1 shot, was seriously compromised by a bad mistake at the last. However he was tough after that to touch off pacesetter Swift by half a length.

Swift’s rider Mark Enright got the benefit of the doubt from the stewards after an incident between the second last and final flight where it appeared that interference may have occurred.

Apache Jack (13/2) finished last of the seven home. Jockey Andrew Lynch reported that his mount hated the ground.

Otherwise it was a pretty worthwhile afternoon for Lynch as he registered a double, completed aboard Roger Brookhouse’s Celtic Rising in the Sean Graham Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle. Victorious in a point-to-point at the start of his career for Donnchadh Doyle, now for Henry de Bromhead the embryonic chaser stylishly justified 7/4 favouritism by six lengths.

RULE 212 A

After this two-miler, the stewards were of the opinion that jockey James O’Sullivan was in breach of Rule 212 A (ii) following his effort on fifth home, Jack Wade.

Having considered his record in this regard the suspension handed down to O’Sullivan was for five racedays, and his riding fee had to be forfeited. As a consequence of O’Sullivan’s actions, the stewards suspended Jack Wade for 42 days.

Meanwhile, having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the stewards noted the explanations offered by Jack Wade’s trainer, Philip Rothwell.

Lynch himself was cautioned for his use of the whip when setting the ball rolling on his brace aboard Goose Man in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase. This was a decent effort on the part of the 10/11 favourite to overcome a bad mistake at the penultimate fence.

Tom Taaffe’s charge out-pointed Robin Des Mana by one and three-quarter lengths. Taaffe now has the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in mind for Fitri Hay’s six-year-old.

Gordon Elliott has care of Robin Des Mana and the Cullentra House operator later went a place better with Gun Digger (2/1 second favourite) in the Silks@DownRoyal Rated Novice Hurdle.

Fresh from saddling a treble at Punchestown the previous afternoon, Elliott again teamed up with Jack Kennedy for this success.

Gigginstown House Stud’s Gun Digger was impressive in putting nine lengths between himself and Guided By You, after assuming command two out.

“Jack said the further he went the better he got in that ground. He’ll win plenty of races in that ground,” reasoned Elliott.

Some of the best wine was kept until last, as on her debut Well Set Up (20/1) ran away with the concluding St. Patrick’s Day Punters Pack INH Flat Race.

Her half-brother, On The Blind Side, heads to Cheltenham as a leading hope for one of the novice hurdles. There could be exciting days ahead for this Gold Well mare herself, going by what she showed here.

Richie Deegan’s mount stretched clear from over a furlong out, to put broad smiles on the faces of trainer Mark Fahey, and owner/breeder Jean Corrigan. At the finish she was 11 lengths and three-parts of a length ahead of Harrie (2/5 favourite) and Dorydalis (5/2).

“She goes well at home but I thought the ground might catch her out and that she’d come on for the experience,” disclosed Fahey.

“She was green the whole way and Richie gave her a brilliant ride. It’s a good tonic for Jean’s partner Des. He wasn’t well for a while. The filly will likely be put away for those festival bumpers at Aintree or somewhere like that, if she’s not sold.”

ACTING STEWARDS

R. S. Martin, L. McFerran, F. G. Fitzsimons, Rev. C. L. Hall-Thompson, M. F. O’Donoghue

HORSE TO FOLLOW

UNDER SURVEILLANCE (A. Lynch): By Presenting and out of six-time winning Pistolet Bleu mare Coscorrig. Posted an encouraging debut effort when fourth in the bumper behind Well Set Up.