NEVERUSHACON indicated that he could be set for quite an industrious few months as he readily dealt with some more experienced rivals in the Morrison BMW Hurdle.

The Galway Festival now looms large on the horizon for Jessica Harrington’s charge whose only previous outing over hurdles came last November. In the interim he had won a flat maiden at Limerick and risen to a rating of 84 on the level.

The 7/4 favourite, who is owned by the trainer’s son-in-law Richie Galway, was sent to the front by Robert Power with three to jump. In the straight the Echo Of Light gelding first dealt with the challenge of the strong-travelling Dai Bando and he then went to the line well to account for Vercingetorix by a length and three-quarters.

“I was very pleased with how he jumped, considering that some of the others had a lot more practice at it than he did,” said Mrs Harrington. “The four-year-old hurdle in Galway could be a race for him although there is the amateur ride’s handicap too.”

Jack Kennedy recorded the most lucrative success of his burgeoning career on Gordon Elliott’s From Frost (10/1) who made light of his relative inexperience to claim the featured Ladbrokes Jack Duggan Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

On just his fifth outing over timber and his second in handicaps, the Christopher Donnelly-owned four-year-old relished the step up to three miles. He was going conspicuously well in behind the leaders on the approach to the straight and knuckled down well after the last to see off the joint-favourite Duckweed by three quarters of a length. This was Kennedy’s fourth winner over hurdles and his sixth in all.

“He likes this ground and the longer trip helped,” remarked Elliott, who also saddled three seconds during the course of the afternoon. “He got a 7lb hike for finishing second in Roscommon last time but Jack’s claim was a big help. We’ll probably mix it between the flat and hurdles with him.”

DE BROMHEAD

Henry de Bromhead’s red hot run of form continued in the two-mile maiden hurdle where Solatentif gave the trainer his sixth winner from his last 12 runners. The 4/6 chance was produced by Jonathan Burke to lead coming away from two out and a good jump at the last sealed a three and a quarter lengths victory for the Alan and Ann Potts-owned gelding.

“I’ve been away for the last week so a big thank you to all the staff at home who have been doing a great job lately,” reflected de Bromhead. “I was a bit disappointed with his run at Punchestown (sixth to Yorkhill) but maybe that was just a very good bumper. He’ll go for a novice hurdle next and we might move him up in trip.”

Galway-based trainer John Neilan sent out his first winner on the track as Hunters Call (6/1) and Declan Queally came out on top in the Joe Bollard Memorial Flat Race. The Michael Ward-owned and bred gelding came here off an encouraging fourth to Oathkeeper at Roscommon and he took charge of this two and a half miles contest entering the last furlong. He was always doing enough to deal with the favourite Touch A Million who went down by two lengths.

“Point-to-pointing is really our game and we just have the odd one for the track. We thought a bit of him in points but things just didn’t work out for him. He stays really well,” reported Neilan.

IDEAL START

Kilkishen (9/2) got his jumping career off to an ideal start with an ultra game display in the two and a half miles www.kilkennypembrokehotel.com Maiden Hurdle. The Kilbeggan bumper winner made most of the running for Brian Hayes but he was in trouble when headed by the favourite Cecil Corbett after out. The latter then cut across and hampered Kilkishen before the last but Hayes’s mount rallied splendidly and bore down relentlessly on the market leader on the run in to shade a bobbing finish by a nose.

“That was a good performance from a horse having his first run over hurdles, particularly as the second took his ground after two out,” declared Shark Hanlon who trains the five-year-old for Sean Hehir. “He’s tough and stays well and he wants three miles.”

SURPRISE

A back to form Supreme Vic gave Adam O’Neill his third winner in just over a week as she sprung a 16/1 surprise in the At The Races Handicap Hurdle. Norman Lee’s charge had stolen into quite a decent lead with three to jump and from this point onwards her rivals were struggling to reel her in. No Kidding led the chase in the closing stages but he was still two and three-quarter lengths adrift at the line.

“She’s been coming back to form and did that well. I did think she’d run well today and she might go straight to Galway now,” stated Norman Lee who trains the winner for Paul Mullins.

Thanks For Tea notched up a precious winning bracket and picked up a €5,000 ITBA fillies scheme bonus cheque in the two and a half miles mares’ maiden hurdle. The Paul Townend-ridden daughter of Shantou held every chance from the second last but it was only late on that she found a way past the resilient favourite Davids Jewel.

“She likes nice ground and a longer trip would probably suit her better. She’ll keep going for the summer and she’ll jump a fence in time,” commented Edmond Kent, who owned, trained and bred the winner.

Bans

NINA Carberry picked up a four-day whip ban for her efforts on the runner-up, Touch A Million, in the bumper. In the same race Barry John Foley was given a two-day careless riding suspension.

Acting Stewards

N.P. Lambert, Mrs. C. Corballis, W.M. Halley, R. Hurley, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

HASH BROWN (M. Hourigan): He ran much better than his seventh in the Jack Duggan Memorial Hurdle would suggest. At one point it looked as if the top weight might succeed but he faded in the closing stages and possibly a return to shorter will suit. He will win over hurdles.