HIS career hasn’t quite developed in the manner one might have expected following his third in the 2018 Triumph Hurdle but Sayo showed that he still retains considerable ability as he comfortably outclassed his rivals in the Joe Cooney Memorial Hurdle.

This Margaret Masterson-owned gelding came here off a decent second on the flat at the Curragh and quite a respectable run in a valuable staying handicap hurdle at Galway and those efforts along with the addition of first time cheek-pieces saw him returned at 10/11.

The Willie Mullins inmate, whose last win came over fences at Galway last autumn, looked to have this race in safe keeping once Mengli Khan gave way after two out and Paul Townend never had to get too animated for Sayo to defeat the 80/1 shot Dolciano Dici by seven and a half lengths.

“I’d say the cheek-pieces sharpened up his jumping a good bit,” stated Townend after taking up his only ride of the day. “He jumped a bit slow at Galway but was sharper today and I was in pole position once I got by Mengli Khan.

“It will do him the world of good to get his head in front.”

The evening began with a terrific finish to the two-mile maiden hurdle where Ashqar provided trainer Paul Gilligan with his first win since Glamorgan Duke landed February’s Leopardstown Chase.

The complexion of this race changed dramatically from two out to the line with Curlew Hill and then Grange Walk both looking set to score at various points.

The latter was nailed in the last stride by Ashqar (11/2) who finished with a great flourish for Philip Enright.

This Margaret Hannigan-owned five-year-old has promised plenty in the past but this was his first win from 30 attempts.

“I must say a big thank you to Gerry Lynch who got a good few horses sent to us when he retired,” declared Gilligan.

There was a great result for the Burke family in the maiden hurdle over just short of two and a half miles as Thousand Tears (3/1) struck for trainer John Burke and was ridden to victory by his brother Martin and he is owned by their sister Elaine.

This five-year-old just needed a bit of room to make his bid in the closing stages but an opening arrived in ample time for him to take charge before the last.

He consigned the consistent Santana Plessis to another third straight runner-up finish.

Night to cherish for Corrado as Shoe String strides on

IT was a truly memorable evening for amateur rider Amy Corrado as she rode the first winner of her career aboard the James Barrett-trained Shoe String (28/1) who produced a remarkable effort to make a winning debut in the bumper.

This €2,000 yearling established a big lead early on before then coming right back to the field and she seemed certain to be swallowed up with half a mile to run.

As it happened Shoe String (28/1) was merely biding her time before striding clear again and the PGC Syndicate-owned four-year-old was a most impressive six-length winner over the odds-on I A Connect.

“I’m delighted. She was quite green and I thought I’d drop my hands and see would she settle and she kept picking up nicely,” reported the Kilkenny born jockey who only took her first ride last month and has been based with Jim Bolger for the last year. “We felt she would run well if she stayed.”

He had been somewhat disappointing over fences so far, but Doctor Duffy (6/5) got his act together in a first time visor to dominate the Kieran Kelly Memorial Beginners Chase over an extended three miles.

This Charles Byrnes inmate was giving Kevin Brouder a chance winner after his intended partner Cathal Landers took a fall in the first and he was in charge of this race some way from home before eventually finishing with nine lengths to spare.

“His jumping has been letting him down but it was better today in the visor which helped sharpen him. He’ll go handicap chasing now,” declared Byrnes who trains the gelding for the Relic Pride Partnership.

Rattling good run continues for claimer Walsh

EOIN Walsh, a 7lb claimer, notched up his third winner in seven days when The Caddy Rose (11/4) returned from five months off to land the two and a half-mile handicap chase.

A useful sort at her best, Noel Meade’s charge was making it four wins from 19 starts and after leading well before the last fence she showed a good attitude to see off Ask Nile by a neck.

The outcome here might have been different though had Crazywork De Vassy not exited when holding a useful lead at the second last. Meade trains the winner for Jimmy Kernohan.

The lightly-raced eight-year-old Mick Charlie got off the mark on just his sixth outing on the track when he claimed the Pig ‘N’ Whistle Pubs Handicap Hurdle.

After showing promise on his debut for Declan Queally at Tramore last month, the 17/2 shot took a step forward under Sean O’Keeffe to post a six and a half lengths victory over In Your Shadow.

“He’s owned by Myles, John and Thomas Coughlan, three brothers from Tipperary. They thought it might be a bit expensive for Myles to renew his licence so they sent the horse down to us and it’s great he’s won for them as he cost just €1,000.

“He struggled in points but the good ground helped him today,” reported Declan Queally junior.