THE promising Banbridge took centre stage as he made it three wins on the spin in the rated novice hurdle over just short of two miles, five furlongs with another likeable display which would suggest that better company will hold no fears for him as we move deeper into the season.

Beforehand this six-runner affair appeared to present Joseph O’Brien’s charge with a reasonably straightforward assignment and he looked right at home as he moved up to this trip for the first time.

J.J. Slevin made a good deal of the running on the Ronnie Bartlett-owned son of Doyen who was kept company throughout by The Little Yank. The latter was a still a menacing presence on the outside of the evens favourite jumping the second last but Banbridge took his measure without being subjected to anything like strong pressure and he finished with four and three-quarter lengths to spare.

“He’s a very decent horse and he won well. He picked up well when I needed him and he’s not short of gears. He enjoys good ground and he could be better again when he jumps fences, he might even by a Galway Plate horse of the future,” stated Slevin.

Convincing Bennystiara

Jockey Mike O’Connor has bolstered his profile dramatically since the new season got underway and he hit double figures for the campaign aboard Bennystiara in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge had posted a respectable effort to take third in a maiden at Downpatrick towards the end of May and she built on that to justify 6/4 favouritism in convincing fashion.

The What A Combination Syndicate-owned mare, who enjoyed stepping up to this two-mile–five-furlong trip, was in charge from the second last and went on to score by five and a half lengths to provide O’Connor with a winner on his first visit to this track.

Nolan’s summer

Also enjoying an industrious summer is Paul Nolan and he bagged the opening claiming hurdle with Emir De Rots (8/1) who carries the colours of Tipperary hurling great Nicky English.

The seven-year-old was reverting to hurdles following a spell over fences, which had yielded a couple of placings, and he showed an excellent attitude to get the better of a protracted duel with the 11/10 favourite War God.

There was just a head between the front pair who finished 15 lengths clear of Viking Hoard whose run at Tramore in October 2018 was at the centre of a scandal that rocked Irish racing earlier this year.

Now under the care of Cathal Byrnes, Viking Hoard was running for the first time in 11 months.

A GOOD evening for Jody McGarvey yielded victories in both divisions of the two-mile Larry O’Farrelly Memorial Maiden Hurdle achieved in sharply contrasting styles.

Firstly, the Denise Foster-trained Spoiled Rotten (22/1-9/1) was a last-gasp winner of the first division as he left the form of his indifferent racecourse debut a long way behind.

This four-year-old was being driven along some way from home and all the way up the straight he looked booked for a minor role.

The Ann Marie McManus-owned gelding finished with a great flourish from the last though to nail the game pace-setter Gallic Boy on the line.

“The race fell apart in front of me and he just picked up the pieces. He was a bit disappointing in Tipperary but he has taken a nice step forward. He ground it out well and I’d say he will stay further,” remarked the rider.

It was far easier McGarvey half an hour later as the 111-rated Hallowed Star bolted up on his first run since April. This Annette Mee-owned son of Sea The Stars boasted very solid form from the winter and early spring and outclassed these rivals.

Shark Hanlon’s charge led before two out and then eased away for a smooth seven-length triumph over We’ll Go Again. The 7/4 chance won’t be long in adding to his haul.

Paul Townend made the trip to Roscommon for one ride a worthwhile one as Matthew Smith’s Punters Poet (4/1) bagged his second victory of the season in the 80-102 rated handicap hurdle over two miles.

Punters Poet was left as the chief threat to Call The Fairies when Presenting Lad came down two out and he got on top on the run in to score by one and three-quarter lengths.

The improving gelding is owned by the Poetic Ten Syndicate.