PAUL Townend had an eventful day on Saturday last, recording a double at Kilbeggan, after missing his ride in opener due to transport difficulties.

He explained: “I was travelling with Danny Mullins and his car broke down. I had to ring my girlfriend to come pick us up, but all’s well that ends well.”

While he, and Mullins, were fined €200 for ‘failing to present themselves to weigh out at the required time,’ Townend quickly made up for this on German import Aramon in the Devitt’s, Doheny & Nesbitt Maiden Hurdle.

Trained by Willie Mullins, and sent off the 1/2 favourite, supporters of this Monsun gelding hardly had a moments worry, as he kicked for home before the last, going on to score comfortably by eight lengths.

“He was green early and was keen between hurdles, I just had to rev him up,” Townend said of this Supreme Horse Racing Club and Michael Songer owned bay.

“There is plenty of improvement to come. He seems a natural jumper and they’ll have a lot of fun with him.”

STEADY PROGRESS

Liam Cusack’s Lasoscar (7/2 favouritism on-course) completed the brace for Townend in the Follow @KilbegganRaces On Twitter Handicap Chase.

Settled towards rear, the 11 year-old made steady progress from five out, and got to the front before the final fence, keeping on well from there to beat I’m An Izz Wizz by two and three-quarter lengths.

“He is a very honest, genuine horse. He never runs a bad race. He was in that race nicely off his mark today,” Cusack disclosed.

“It ended up being a staying race, and he just outstayed them. It’s great for his owner Johnny Kavanagh who is a local man, and it’s a nice pot to win.”

As it turned out, Kolumbus, Townend’s intended mount in the Like Kilbeggan Races On Facebook Maiden Hurdle, could only manage third, with the Gordon Elliott trained Falak taking this two-mile contest.

Sent off at a price of 10/1, the Brendan Scully owned five-year-old was the first part of a double for Barry Geraghty.

Towards rear early on, the son of Teofilo received reminders with just over a circuit to race. He took closer order from three out, and was ridden to the front at the last, going on to hold off the late challenge of 50/1 outsider Whatsafellatodo by half a length.

“He battled well and it’s nice to ride one for Brendan Scully, who was involved in Miss Orchestra who I won the Midlands Grand National on in 1998. It’s a nice connection 20 years later,” Geraghty reflected.

IMPROVING

Jessica Harrington trained Miss Orchestra and, coincidentally, Geraghty teamed-up with her again to complete his brace on Woodland Opera in the Joe Cooney Memorial Hurdle.

A disappointing ninth over fences at the Galway Festival, the eight-year-old victor was sent off a 5/2 second favourite in the colours of Valerie Cooper, her daughter Diana, and Carolyn Waters.

Having raced in second in the early stages, he improved to lead at the fourth, and went a few lengths clear after two out, keeping up the gallop from there to see off the even-money favourite Koshari by four lengths.

Geraghty said after this success: “I’d say it was just happening too quick for him at Galway over two miles on quick ground.

“Jessie was hopeful of a good show today stepping back up to two and a half, it worked well, and it was a good performance.”

Batcio failed to even get past the starter at Galway (unseated and ran loose before being withdrawn), but he made up for that in style in the concluding Summer Party Pack Discount Group Booking INH Flat Race.

Available at 100/30 in early shows, and supported from 15/8 into 13/8 favouritism on-course, the Ted Walsh-trained grey raced toward the head of affairs throughout.

He was sent on by Aubrey McMahon over a furlong out, and soon went clear, coming home 13 lengths to the good in the colours of McMahon’s father, Luke.

“He is a nice horse. He’ll probably go for a maiden hurdle now somewhere. He won a point-to-point and he is a good leaper,” Walsh divulged.

“He is a fun horse for Aubrey and he’ll get a lot of fun out of him.”

FUN HORSE

Fellow point-to-point victor Time Is Time record his first track success in the Pig ‘N’ Whistle Pubs & Restaurants New York Handicap Hurdle.

Sent off an easy-to-back 7/1 chance, the David Barry-owned and trained chesnut raced in mid-division, before making good progress to lead after two out.

He was ridden before the last, and kept on well from there to prevail by three and a half lengths under Ambrose McCurtin.

“It was a while coming but he was plagued with injuries early on in his life. He did it today – third, second, first, he was entitled to his day,” Barry remarked.

“We were kind of worried about the trip but he does stay. He is fun horse. I think there is something in Ballinrobe for him, it’s over three miles so it will suit him down to the ground.”

Judgement Day (9/4 joint-favourite) also recorded his first racecourse success as he led home his seven rivals in the Kieran Kelly Memorial Beginners Chase.

A beaten favourite on five separate occasions, the Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding was tried in cheekpieces for the first time here.

Soon in front, and not fluent at times, he was joined at the third last by Niven, but battled back gamely to regain the lead on the run-in, going on to see off that rival by half a length.

Mark Enright was aboard the six-year-old gelding for Gigginstown House Stud, and he commented: “The cheekpieces definitely helped him.

“He travelled well early on, his jumping kind of fell to pieces on the second circuit. He showed battling qualities there which I didn’t think he showed at Wexford. He is lazy and I think the further he’ll go the better.”

Enright later picked up a one-day ban for using his whip with excessive force and frequency.

ACTING STEWARDS

S. Barry, H. Lappin, P. Myerscough, G. McCourt, P.D Matthews.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

TEMPLEMORE DREAM (A. Fleming): On what was his debut in handicap company, this five-year-old gelding kept on nicely to take third in the race won by Lasoscar. He might appreciate a step up in trip, and should be able to win a similar contest soon.