LIMERICK’S Grade 2 McMahons Builders Providers – New Online Store Just Launched – Novice Chase looked to be Al Boum Photo’s for the taking with just one fence remaining but the hotpot, who was seven lengths up on his nearest rival Tombstone at the time, got in too close and paid the price with a heavy fall which saw Dounikos, another Gigginstown horse trained by Gordon Elliott, capitalise to run out the four and a half-length winner under Andrew Ring.

Held up at the tail of the field, the 14/1 shot had given chase to the leaders after three out and, with Tombstone also erring at the last, Dounikos seized the opportunity presented to him.

Ring, who rides out for Elliott once a week, was registering his first graded winner on Dounikos and reported: “I had the other horse (Al Boum Photo) covered going down to the last and he was flying. He’s such a good jumper, he was gaining two or three lengths at every fence and he jumped and travelled everywhere and had plenty left.

“He may have been an outsider but, when you’re riding for Gordon, that doesn’t really matter and that’s my second winner for him. I’ve been riding out for him for the last six months and said ‘I might as well join the queue!’”

Elliott’s assistant, Ian Amond, said of Dounikos: “He was a shock winner (in Gowran) the last day but he won that well, so he’s going in the right direction and three miles seems to suit him. Andrew thought he might have won anyway, but the fall made it easier for him and it’s great for lads like him to get the win.”

Evergreen Doneraile handler John Joe Walsh and champion conditional Rachael Blackmore dominated the remainder of the meeting with a double apiece. They got off to a good start when joining forces to capture the McSweeney Sports Surfaces 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle with 4/1 chance Lady In Lavender.

Owned and bred by Fermoy vet Conor O’Brien, who was flying back from Vienna as the race got underway, the daughter of Jeremy was at the head of affairs on her latest run at Cork when running out off the last bend, but responded well to the fitting of a first time hood to claim the prize by three-quarters of a length from Randalls Ur Poet. The favourite, Star Maker, was third.

Walsh said: “She was unlucky in Mallow and never settled. She’s always keen, but the hood settled her today and they went a good gallop. I’d imagine she might like the ground a bit better, because she has a bit of foot.”

Blackmore made it an opening race double when following up on Ex Patriot, from the Ellmarie Holden yard, with a convincing five and a half-length display in the Signsplus Hurdle. The 7/2 winner is owned by the trainer’s father Paul and this was his second win.

Holden commented: “I do think a lot of him and the track and the ground suited him. We’ll see how he comes out of the race, but he might go to Punchestown on Sunday for a two and a half mile conditions race. We’ll make a plan from there and he might go chasing next year.”

GOOD STRIKE RATE

John Joe Walsh, who has a good strike rate at Limerick, doubled up with a decisive success for 9/4 favourite Shower Cross in the Futureticketing.ie Maiden Hurdle. Racing in the colours of Elizabeth Stack from Athea, the Ambrose McCurtin-ridden six-year-old was never too far away on his first hurdles start and could be called the winner turning for home.

Touching down in front at the second last, Shower Cross was kept up to his work to defeat Western Ruler by 12 lengths. “He won his point-to-point on good ground and he stays well,” said his trainer, adding: “I fancied him, but I’d say he might not have liked the ground today. He might go for a winner’s race and I’d say he’ll make a nice horse next year.”

Charles Byrnes is another trainer who it can pay to follow at his local track and he struck with the well-supported 6/4 favourite Minnies Secret who took the Lyons Of Limerick Jaguar & Land Rover Mares Flat Race by the widest margin of the day under Raymond Barron when accounting for Castafiore Park by 19 lengths.

Byrnes trains the Beneficial mare for the Byrnsey Boys Syndicate and was swamped by a host of well-wishers afterwards. As he remarked: “She loved the ground (officially heavy) and her run in a listed bumper at Gowran (in September) was very nice. She’s not great to jump, so she might run in a winners’ bumper.”

Co. Wexford-based Sean Doyle teamed up with 5lb claiming amateur Harley Dunne for a six and a half-length success with his neighbour Jay Kavanagh’s 11/2 shot Gracemount who led from two out in the O’Kelly Brothers Demolition Mares Handicap Hurdle to score at Pat’s Oscar’s expense, with market leader Knockraha Pylon only fourth.

The six-year-old’s handler said: “It’s nice to get a Christmas winner and that mare owes me nothing. She does everything so easy and it’s great for the Kavanagh family.”

Patsio, with Kevin Sexton in the plate, bagged the fourth race of his career when springing a 20/1 surprise for the Shay Barry stable in the Mr Binman 0-116 Handicap Chase.

“He jumped and he travelled and it worked out for him,” was the comment from the rider after his mount had held the challenge of Aranhill Rascal by three-quarters of a length. “He was lucky not to be brought down at the third last (where there were four casualties).”

Whip bans

FINNY Maguire was suspended for one day for using his whip above shoulder height in the third race, while Seamus Perry picked up a four-day whip ban in the fifth race and was also ordered to attend RACE for one day’s tuition in the correct use of the whip.

Acting Stewards

J. Moloney, P. McLernon, B. Murphy, Jill Farrell, H. Hynes.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

AL BOUM PHOTO (W.P. Mullins): Still only a five-year-old and a Grade 2 winner over hurdles to boot, he looks to be a better chaser than a hurdler where he was just short of top-class. He looks sure to make amends for his last fence fall in the near future and could turn out to be Grade 1 material over fences.