THE teak-tough Mill Quest continues to go from strength to strength as the sun begins to set on her racing career and she notched up her seventh win in just under a year in the featured Play The Tote Irish EBF Mares’ Chase which brought up a double for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell

The daughter of Milan, who is in foal to Mount Nelson, lost the lead to Timeforwest turning for home but two out, as the latter got that fence all wrong and came down, it left the Coolglen Syndicate-owned mare in charge.

Mill Quest (11/4) was far from done with at the time of the favourite’s departure and once she regained the initiative she was never going to be beaten. She crossed the line a length and three-quarters ahead of stablemate Barra.

“She’s been a great servant over the last year and she’d definitely improved since last season,” commented Elliott. “She may well head to Listowel for a decent handicap chase on Monday and we’ll look to get some blacktype with her before she finishes up.”

Summer horse

Elliott and Russell were also successful with Ravenhill in the beginners’ chase over just short of two and a half miles. The 5/4 favourite briefly looked as though he could be in trouble on the approach to the straight but he was at his strongest in the closing stages and a spring-heeled leap at the last put the seal on an easy nine-length triumph.

The Try Ravenhill Syndicate-owned gelding was a capable stayer over hurdles and should prove just as good when he moves up in trip over fences.

“He’s a lovely summer horse who should win plenty more races, especially when he goes up in trip. I’d hope the best is yet to come from him,” reported the trainer.

Contrasting fortunes

The evening featured contrasting fortunes for odds-on punters and it began with a defeat for Poseidon (11/8-4/5) in the two-mile maiden hurdle. He was squeezed up when looking to challenge two out, and when he got back on an even keel he couldn’t quite master the 116-rated Archer’s Up (5/2) who got home by two lengths.

Archer’s Up is trained by Gavin Cromwell for Pauline and Derek Twiss and he was ridden by Paul Townend. This was the gelding’s first success for his connections since he was claimed for €10,000 at Dundalk 14 months ago.

Favourite backers enjoyed better luck in the mares’ maiden hurdle as the Townend-ridden Little Nugget eased to a six-and-a-half-length triumph to justify her position as the 1/3 favourite.

A Wexford bumper winner last season, the daughter of Daylami is trained by Willie Mullins for the Sunny Day Syndicate. This brace of winners for Paul Townend maintained a stunning run of form for the rider whose last five days riding in Ireland have yielded a terrific four doubles and a treble.

The other odds-on chance on the card was Sneaky Getaway (4/9) who followed up a victory over Cork at Easter with a smooth six-length defeat of the recent Killarney scorer Baboin in the winners’ bumper.

Patrick Mullins was on board the Margaret O’Rourke-owned six-year-old. Winning trainer Emmet Mullins reported that his charge might now try the flat.

THE indefatigable Shake The Bucket (14/1) made it 15 wins from 113 starts on the racecourse in the 0-109 rated handicap chase. Niall Madden trains this 12-year-old for his daughter Sarah-Ann and her brother Niall was on board as Shake The Bucket won over jumps for the first time in nearly three years. This admirably versatile gelding has notched up 10 Polytrack wins at Dundalk.

After springing a 25/1 surprise at Ballinrobe on Monday evening, the Seamus Braddish-trained Brogine was a mere 6/4 shot to follow up in the three-mile handicap hurdle and she duly did so but this victory wasn’t without its share of drama.

The winning rider Cathal Landers actually put out his right shoulder at the last flight but he still managed to get the mare home in front before being stood down for the rest of the evening.

Eric McNamara’s runners at this track always warrant a second glance and this was certainly the case with Celtic Dancer, who was partnered by his son Conor to spring a 14/1 surprise in the 80-95 handicap hurdle. The Celtic Steps Syndicate-owned gelding left his previous form behind to defeat Onefortherose by half a length and he may bid to follow up at Listowel on Monday.

Cathal Landers with winning trainer Seamus Braddish after dislocating his shoulder when winning on Brogine \ Healy Racing