LOCAL trainer Eric McNamara moved on to his best seasonal tally for a decade as he reeled off a double which was completed by the very useful Internal Transfer in the near two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase.

This brace made it 11 winners for the season for McNamara and there could be a quality handicap to be won with Internal Transfer who has won three times and been placed on three occasions in his eight starts since being bought for £3,000 in January 2018.

On his first outing since landing a rated novice chase at Limerick’s Christmas meeting, Internal Transfer was assigned a mark of 126 as he stepped into handicap company.

As was the case at Christmas, Donie McInerney was on board the eight-year-old and the pair had only Damut for company facing up to the last two fences.

Internal Transfer (4/1), who is owned by Aidan Ryan and Charlie Walker, always looked to hold the upper hand, and he asserted before the last fence to carry the day by half a dozen lengths.

“He’s a lovely horse and he’s three from three around here too,” said McNamara.

“For a horse who is such a good jumper I was disappointed with his jumping and I’d say he needs softer ground. If it stays dry he’ll go on a break but if it did look like being soft we’d consider either Fairyhouse or Punchestown.”

Earlier, McNamara joined forces with his son Conor to take the first division of the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle with Torquay.

The top-weight was returned a well-backed 5/1 chance and made most of the running.

She moved nicely clear on the approach to the second last and this advantage stood her in good stead as the staying on Allduckornodinner had whittled away the lead to one and three-quarter lengths at the line.

FIRST SUCCESS

The John Donald-owned winner was recording the first success of her career.

“She loves good ground and a bit of daylight and hopefully she might win another if the handicapper isn’t too hard on her,” declared McNamara.

Another trainer who is on course to post his best seasonal tally for at least a decade is Noel Meade who moved on to the 59-winner mark for the campaign after Cosmo’s Moon bagged the Irish Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Meade recorded tallies of 59 victories in the 2009/2010 and 2011/12 seasons but his 62 winner haul from 10 years ago now looks eminently attainable.

The Sean Flanagan-ridden Cosmo’s Moon made much of the running and he produced a much slicker jump at the second last than the closing Debuchet who was always struggling to reel in the leader after that obstacle.

The Crooked Crew Syndicate-owned winner crossed line with two and a half lengths to spare.

“I’d say that’s his ground and he’s a summer horse. His second to Cash Back at Thurles was a good run and he just found the race coming too soon at Down Royal last time,” reported Meade.

“Sean felt that wasn’t really the way to ride him but we said we would try and make the running and try to stretch Debuchet.”

DOUBLE

Donagh Meyler also ended the day with a double which he completed on Arthur Moore’s At Your Ease (4/1) in the beginners’ chase for horses rated 116 or less over hurdles.

This contest served up a dramatic conclusion as The Church Gate went for a run up the inside of the favourite Eviscerating before two out, but as that obstacle loomed he didn’t have sufficient room to get back on to the chase course proper in time which meant he went the wrong side of the wing of the fence and was out of the race.

A lengthy enquiry that went on well after racing had concluded found Eviscerating’s rider, Rachael Blackmore, guilty of improper riding and she was banned for three days.

The winner faced the unenviable task of taking on the exciting Chacun Pour Soi last time but he was much more at home in this company and Meyler produced him to take charge late on and see off Three Kings by one and three-quarter lengths.

“If ever a horse was ridden to the letter it was him. The mistake at the first didn’t do any harm as if he winged it he might have been too free,” reflected Moore, who trains the gelding for J.P. McManus.

“He’ll probably have one more run in a handicap and then be left off for the summer.”

Donagh Meyler was also successful on Karl Thornton’s 16/1 chance Shanroe Al C in the second division of the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle.

The six-year-old was being niggled along with a circuit to run but raised his effort in good style for when it mattered most and Donagh Meyler’s mount defeated Fu’s Island by two lengths.

There was a major on course plunge on Classic Escape who was backed from 25/1 into 4/1 joint favourite but he had to settle for fifth.

“He’s a grand horse who won his point-to-point well and he should make a nice chaser next season.

“He’s a bit lazy and tends to run behind the bridle but he did that well enough,” commented Thornton, who trains the winner for the GAP Partnership.

Philip Enright also recorded a double which began when Rodger Sweeney’s Whereyounow (6/1) took the step up to three miles in his stride and shrugged off a 5lb rise for scoring at Cork last month in the 80-109 rated handicap hurdle.

The five-year-old wasn’t going all as well as the strong-travelling Glenmalure Lodge after the second last but he found plenty to carry the day by a length and a quarter.

“He came forward nicely from his last run and the step up to three miles helped him to jump a bit better. He did it well at the finish,” remarked Sweeney, whose wife Joan owns the son of Carlotamix.

STRONG FINISH

Enright also struck aboard Robert Tyner’s Simple Steps (10/1) in the mares’ handicap chase.

The Ballymartle Syndicate-owned nine-year-old came to the last locked in combat with Ballybrowney Walk and she finished off strongly to defeat that opponent by two and a quarter lengths.

Gipsy Lee Rose, who pulled up when trying her hand at Grade 3 level here last month, bounced back to form in the mares’ maiden hurdle over two miles, three furlongs.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge was restored to the form that saw her reach the frame on her first two outings and jumped superbly from the front.

Shane Shortall’s mount gained ground on her rivals at a number of hurdles, and she kept on well from the turn-in to defeat Dolly Dancer by two lengths.

The 6/4 favourite is owned by Alan Harte.

“She pulled up last time but she’s a much more effective mare on better ground as she showed here and hopefully it’s onwards and upwards,” commented Shortall.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

THREE KINGS (G. Elliott): On his second completed start for his trainer, this gelding ran a solid race to chase home At Your Ease in a beginners’ chase and a similar race should be within his reach.

ACTING STEWARDS

P. McLernon, P. Ronan, T. Rudd, Ms. K. Horgan, L. Walsh