DECLAN Queally’s Bal Kauto brought up his hat-trick in good style in The Tote Always SP Or Better At Downpatrick Handicap Steeplechase at Downpatrick last Saturday.

The in-form six-year-old gelding had plundered a handicap hurdle at Limerick and a handicap chase at Clonmel, and went off 6/5 favourite to add to his tally.

He travelled well for Shane Fitzgerald to dispute the lead at the penultimate fence and soon moved on, finishing out strongly for a comprehensive nine-length success.

Queally said: “He’s in right order, a lovely sharp horse and jumps like a cat. He’s a real bonny horse and he is able to flick along on nice ground. I’m mad about him.”

“It is grand for a syndicate (Man About Dog Syndicate) who bought him for small money and he has won three races.”

Mel Monroe easily landed the odds in The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle for KTDA Racing.

The Walk In The Park mare tracked Littel Flour and got on terms with her racing to the second-last flight. She got the better of that battle before the final hurdle and stormed 13 lengths clear of Howaya C D And E in the hands of Danny Gilligan at 4/7.

Gordon Elliott said: “Danny was impressed with her and said there is improvement in her. She lengthened the whole way to the line. I think she will definitely win again.”

Abi’s Champ was far from extended in justifying 4/9 favouritism for Willie Mullins in The Tennents NI (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

The Leading Light mare smoothly took over a quarter of a mile from home and ran right away from her rivals to win by 12 lengths.

Jockey Patrick Mullins, in the Slaneyville Syndicate silks, said: “We gave her a break and came back, and she is a different mare now. Much quicker and much more on the ball.

“I don’t know what the plan will be - I’d love for her to go for a winners’ bumper, but Willie might want to go jumping. To me, at home she shows enough gears maybe to go for a flat race in the future.”

MOONOVERCLOON (3/1 favourite) gave the father and son partnership of Matthew and James Smith a winner in The AJC Group Opportunity Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles and one furlong.

He was off the bridle in the early stages, but warmed to his task when jumping the final flight in seventh place.

The six-year-old gelding stayed on strongly to sweep through inside the final furlong and drew five and a half lengths clear for Shay Gillen and Midlands Partnership.

Smith said: “He ran well in a bumper here before, but he said he is a tricky horse and he didn’t want to go. James just said he was never travelling for him.

“I thought looking at it that there wasn’t much hope for him. A good ride, I must say. He got him going anyway - perhaps the ups and downs and turns. He would be on and off the bridle, but has ability.

“I thought the trip might have been a little bit sharp for him, but I didn’t mind the drop of rain with the trip being a bit sharp.”

Adam Ryan steered Susie Miller home for Sam Curling in The Randox (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles five furlongs.

The 6/1 shot was produced on the inner in the final furlong to deliver by a length and a quarter for owner Ann Cahalan.

The jockey said: “I got caught for a little bit of toe going down the hill, but she was there at the line.

“I was talking to Sam and everyone, and they were all quite keen on her today. I’d say she could even step up (in trip) again and she should improve again.

“It is my first winner for Sam. I’m with Andy (Slattery) every day and that’s eight winners (on the track). I’ve had six point-to-point winners.”

SHANE Broderick’s Sphagnum was a ready winner of the Downpatrick Welcomes Racing TV Club Members Opportunity Beginners Chase over a staying trip.

Dillon Maxwell rode a patient race on him before progressing to lead two out. The six-year-old gelding moved clear entering the straight and kept on for a 10-length success at 7/1 for owner Raymond Loughnane.

Maxwell said: “He did it well. He stood off the last long, but he finished it out well. He did jump well, but wasn’t really liking the ground. I think they got a bit of rain here last night as they were turning it (ground) up well. He seems to like this track a lot, he’s well able for the hills.” Danny Gilligan was injured in a fall of Pats Choice.

Jonathan Fogarty’s Iridescent made a winning start over fences in the Tennents NI Handicap Chase.

He arrived in good form after a handicap hurdle success in Ballinrobe and his jumping improved as the contest wore on.

Kieran Callaghan delivered him four out and the pair moved clear at the next. Their advantage was whittled down after two out, however, they had enough in the tank to win by two lengths at 3/1 for the Touch Of Luck Syndicate.

“He was having a good look at the first five or six fences and he was going right a bit. After that, we got into a nice enough rhythm,” Callaghan said.

“It is hard for a horse to come in off his hurdles mark into a handicap and, in fairness to him, once we got into that rhythm, he was good.

“It will take a nice one to pass him when he is in front.”