SNOW FLACON, who more than held his own against some of the best staying hurdlers of last season, dominated the €50,000 Laurels Pub & Restaurant Kingdom Gold Cup to serve notice of his flat prowess.

After just three flat outings last season the grade 2-winning jumper was open to any amount of progression in this sphere, thus it was no surprise to see him returned a heavily backed 11/4 favourite. In truth his supporters never had a moment’s worry and there could easily be more good races within his reach on the level.

Noel Meade’s charge broke alertly from his wide draw and Colin Keane set a steady tempo with the result that his rivals were floundering once he picked up the pace entering the straight. From over a quarter of a mile out the Patricia Hunt-owned gelding had this race in safe keeping and he kept on strongly to finish with two and three parts of a length to spare over a back to form Bayan.

“He’s a proper horse over hurdles and Noel said that if nobody wanted to make it that he could roll along. I tried to stretch them from the turn in and he galloped all the way to the line,” said Keane.

The 2015 Melbourne Cup runner-up Max Dynamite returned to the winner’s enclosure almost exactly two years after landing the Lonsdale Cup at York’s Ebor meeting with a leisurely success in the John Lane & Sons Tralee (Q.R.) Race. The Willie Mullins inmate, who was making just his fourth appearance since his near miss in Melbourne, faced the most straight forward of tasks on ratings.

The 4/9 favourite was travelling supremely well from the entrance to the straight and, once he was driven along to assert inside the last furlong, he responded well. The Susannah Ricci-owned seven-year-old quickened away from Sandymount Duke to score by three lengths and record his first win on Irish soil since he bagged a Thurles maiden hurdle in November 2014.

“He was well clear on ratings and that was easy for him. It will do his confidence good to get his head back in front,” said Patrick Mullins whose mount was a beaten favourite in the Galway Hurdle last time out. “He’s not a natural hurdler so I’d say he might stay on the flat for the time being and he’s entered in Irish St Leger and the Melbourne Cup.”

The betting over the course of the day indicated that a bold showing was expected from the newcomer Mantracker in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden and Willie McCreery’s charge duly delivered. After being backed from 14/1 into 4/1 the son of Fast Company travelled nicely for Billy Lee and he then ranged upsides the odds on Andesh entering the last furlong. Mantracker edged ahead deep inside the distance and had something to spare in accounting for his aforementioned rival by half a length.

“He’s a nice horse and I was waiting for this race for a while. He’s always gone well at home and just needed some time,” stated McCreery who trains the winner for Britesavers Limited. “He’ll sharpen up and could come back to seven furlongs but we won’t do too much with him this year. The sire has been very lucky for me.”

Owner-trainer Joe Murphy is looking forward to going hurdling with Mr Adjudicator who turned the 11 furlongs apprentice rider’s handicap into a rout. Following a succession of decent efforts in defeat from the outset of the season, the 4/1 chance struck for home under Killian Leonard nearing the two-furlong pole and soon found himself in splendid isolation. At the line the three-year-old had five and a half lengths to spare over Binary Code.

“They did go a mad gallop which set it up for him. His next programme will be hurdling and I’m looking forward to that as I think that jumping will be his forte,” observed Murphy.

The prolific Presenting Julio made it five wins since mid-April in the Kelly Foley & Co. In Association With Lloyd Fitzpatrick Handicap Chase. Gordon Elliott’s versatile nine-year-old was switching back to fences following a spell over hurdles and took full advantage off a lowly mark of 98. Davy Russell took his time off a strong pace before producing the 7/4 favourite to lead after the second last and the pair went on to defeat William Du Berlais by three and three parts of a length.

“Gordon has done a marvelous job with him and he loves nice ground and jumped superbly. I’m thrilled he’s won as he’s owned by my sponsor Danny Charlesworth,” reported Russell.

Fresh from a good second to Tesseract at Galway the John Kiely-trained and Andrew Lynch-ridden Dont Tell No One (7/2) took the Killarney Oaks Beginners Chase over two and three quarter miles. The Brian Gleeson-owned and bred gelding got the better of the smart mare Miss Eyecatcher after the final fence en route to a two and a quarter lengths triumph. The sparingly campaigned nine-year-old was taking his tally to three wins from just eight career outings.

“Galway sharpened him and he jumped better today. Hopefully he’s a horse that will be able to go further,” said Kiely.

After looking an unlucky loser at Roscommon a couple of weeks ago Ojinjintka (6/1) gained compensation in the International Hotel Killarney Handicap. On her second handicap outing the daughter of Myboycharlie wore cheek pieces for the first time and Pat Smullen had her in a challenging position shortly after the turn in. Ojinjintka then led nearing the final furlong and she lasted home by a neck from the oncoming Dignified Air.

“She probably just got away with the ground (yielding) as she wants it soft,” reflected Rogers whose wife Mary owns the three-year-old. “When she got to the front she just idled but she got home and hopefully there’s another one in her.”

Tisamystery (15/2-5/1), in the colours of Kerry-born owner John Byrne, was a popular winner of the Owens McCarthy Claims Specialists Handicap Chase as he bounced back from a below par showing at Kilbeggan earlier this month.

JJ. Slevin sent his mount past Kemboy to lead before the third last fence and Tisamystery always looking to be doing enough to prevail. He defeated Chief Of Panama by a length and a quarter to record the fourth success of his career.

“I’m delighted he’s won down here for John. We’ll enjoy today before making plans but we might look at Listowel for him,” commented Henry de Bromhead.

Barron banned

Ray Barron was given a two day suspension after weighing in at 2.5lbs overweight on Rockshandy who pulled up in the handicap chase won by Presenting Julio.

ACTING STEWARDS:

S. McDonogh, T. Hunt, C. O’Mahony, J. O’Shaughnessy, P.D. Matthews.

HORSE TO FOLLOW:

BAYAN (G. Elliott): This formerly high class hurdler produced his best effort since returning from the sidelines when he chased home Snow Falcon in the night’s feature. This effort bodes well for his prospects over the coming weeks.