AIDAN Howard enjoyed a breakthrough first winner for leading owner J.P. McManus at Galway on Monday where the trainer sent the ex-Alan King trained Grade 2 winning novice hurdler Winter Escape (5/4) to win the Win Big With Tote Beginners Chase.

The Mark Walsh partnered gelding had made an encouraging debut for Howard when second at the same western venue in July and today improved one placing when readily getting the better of market rival and well-backed 11/10 favourite Sympa Des Flos.

Howard said afterwards: “That is my first horse for J.P. and he did it very well. He travelled through the race great and did it nicely.

“It’s a big thanks to Frank Berry and Mr McManus and I’m delighted to have a horse for them. I’ll leave plans up to the lads.

“Jenny Lynch and the lads in the yard have done a fabulous job and deserve the credit as it’s all down to them.”

Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, added: “He has had a few training issues and isn’t straightforward but Aidan is doing a good job keeping him sound. Aidan does a good bit of pre-training for us and it is lovely to have a horse like this to win a race for him.”

IMPRESSIVE

Sympa Des Flos’ trainer Willie Mullins endured a winnerless day and was beaten in the opening Galway 2020 Maiden Hurdle by two of his nephews, trainer Emmet Mullins and jockey David Mullins, who beat the champion trainer with impressive winner Zero Ten.

Zero Ten (11/4), in the colours of Annette Mee, was a winner at the main festival during the summer and today routed his rivals by 15 lengths.

Winning trainer Emmet Mullins wasn’t present but afterwards winning rider, David Mullins said: “He was very free when he won at the festival but we went a good gallop today and he settled very well.

“I think he’ll be a better horse in a better race and it rode a good race today. Willie’s (Mullins’ Thrones Game) isn’t too bad and was well fancied. To brush her aside first time over hurdles, I’d be very impressed.

“That is his first run over hurdles and he made one or two little mistakes. Two and a half miles mightn’t be a problem either.”

Few jumps meeting go by without a Mullins or Elliott trained winner and Gordon Elliott was responsible for the concluding winner, Best Of Dubai (13/8) in the Weatherbys GSB EBF Mares Bumper.

Ridden by Jamie Codd, the daughter of Dubai Destination stayed-on well under pressure in the closing stages to hold off staying-on Wait For No One.

Elliott wasn’t present and afterwards Codd said: “She had the experience and had been knocking on the door in every bumper she has ran in.

“For her to win a bumper is a bonus and she’ll go over jumps now and is a little dinger over jumps.

“She is tough and hardy and can step up in trip. It’s really good for the Lucky Shoe Part Three Syndicate to get a win.”

LOCAL WINNER

There were two local winners at the fixture with Galwegian, and now Carlow based trainer Pat Fahy landing the Deacy Gilligan Irish EBF (Mares) Hurdle with Awayinthewest (5/1).

Pleasure Dome (13/8) and Calie Du Mesnil (6/4) cut out the running in the six runner race. They were eventually overhauled by Awayinthewest, under a strong Barry Geraghty ride, who led close home and defeated Pleasure Dome.

Willie Mullins was responsible for the runner-up, third-placed Calie Du Mesnil and fourth-placed Champord Du Lys, and winning trainer Fahy quipped: “Any day you beat three of Willie’s (Mullins) is not a bad day I suppose!

He added “I was a bit worried as she got a little knock behind at Listowel as she was well butchered on the back leg. I was afraid it might come against her.

“I took a chance and really freshened her, I barely had her out of her stable. She arrived today in really great form and today proves how consistent she is.

“There were a small number in the race and you have to go for those type of races.

“I’m going to go for that mares’ novice hurdle (Grade 3) in Down Royal in November and then aim her back for the mares’ novice hurdle at Cheltenham in March, where her experience will help. That’s a little plan at the moment.”

Iggy Madden, was on point in the Anglo Printers 1890 624 624 Handicap Hurdle with Baby Bellini (16/1), who ended a barren spell for the Galway-based trainer.

Baby Bellini’s success was bridging a three-year, four-month gap to his previous winner in May 2015 and, following the race, winning jockey Adam Short said: “He never got into it at Sligo the last day and the stiffer track suited better today.

“He did a nice bit of work last Saturday and had the headgear (cheekpieces) back on him today.”

SUCCESS

Darragh O’Keeffe enjoyed a fine Listowel Festival last week with two valuable handicap hurdle successes and, came in for high praise from winning trainer Liam Burke following the win of Island Master (9/2) in the Race In Pink Day October 28th Handicap Chase.

Burke joked: “That was like watching paint dry!

“He was running well enough and he deserved to get one but the trouble was to place him, and I actually thought it was too soft for him today.

“In fairness to the young lad (Darragh O’Keeffe), he got stuck into him and was good.

“He picked up for him and he kept driving; he’s not an easy ride, he’s a young man’s ride. He took a bit of driving and Darragh is a fit young fella.

“He has a great owner, Tom Murphy, who works in the golf course in Midleton, and he is on every month before he gets the bill looking to pay you; he is a really genuine owner and I’m delighted for him to have a bit of luck.

“Tom has had great fun with him but he has thrown away a few races in the past when idling in front.”

Another 7lb claimer, Conor Orr, was in the mark in the galwayraces.com Maiden Hurdle where he partnered the Dot Love trained Presentingprincess (11/2) to a length-and-a-half win over Ozzie’s Way.

The daughter of Presenting had finished third at Listowel the previous week and, Love’s assistant, Ciaran Murphy, said: “We were obviously worried about coming from Listowel so quick but it was a nice opportunity for her today and she took it well.

“She stays well, loves the test of stamina, and the juice in the ground. She is very genuine and we have a bumper and hurdle won now so the pressure is off.

“She wants three miles plus and down the road over fences there may be a nice opportunity for her.”

ACTING STEWARDS:

P.J.A. O’Connor, C. O’Mahony, A. Ryan, N. Rooney, M.F. O’Donoghue

HORSE TO FOLLOW:

WAIT FOR NO ONE

(D. Fenton): Finished strongly when second in the bumper and looks good enough to win a similar race on soft ground next time.