BROTHERS in arms John and Martin Burke have been steadily clocking up the winners in recent months. They hit the jackpot at their local track of Thurles last Sunday when their sister Elaine’s 200/1 outsider Killahara Castle, the longest priced winner in Ireland this century, proved five lengths too good for the odds-on favourite True Self in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle.

This was their biggest success and the six-year-old is one of just four horses that John, who trains at nearby Holycross, has in his yard. Taking breakers into account, that number rises to 14 altogether.

Held up towards the rear, the six-year-old delivered her challenge to True Self over the second last and, it was all over facing up to the final fence, with Burke’s charge going away to claim the prize in style.

With John Burke, whose explanation regarding the mare’s apparent improvement in form was noted, on lead-up duty, it was left to the successful jockey Martin, who rides a bit of work for neighbouring trainer Tim Doyle, to explain: “We came here, just hoping for a bit of blacktype and were hoping the race would cut up a bit. She keeps a bit for herself, but has great ability and it was just a question of getting it out of her.

“We always thought a lot of her as a four-year-old, but she was always very free. Today, they went a good gallop and I was able to settle her in behind and they came back to her. The smaller field suited her as well and everything went right for her.”

Susannah Ricci’s Walk In The Park five-year-old Koshari, who picked up an injury when last seen out finishing last in a Grade 3 contest at Naas last November, made a successful debut over fences in the Jim Murphy Contract Fence Builder Irish EBF Beginners Chase when leading from start to finish on his reappearance in the hands of Danny Mullins.

The jockey, whose uncle Willie has care of the 8/11 favourite, was looking for non-existent dangers between the last two obstacles as his mount drew clear to account for 22/1 outsider Veneziano Springs by a comfortable 15 lengths.

The rider said afterwards: “It was a good performance after a long lay-off and he’s open to more improvement. Hopefully we’ll find a better race for him.”

The Robert Tyner-trained Simple Steps is blessed with an abundance of stamina, but still had to dig deep for Philip Enright in the Molony Cup to fend off the renewed effort of Cappacurry Zak by one and three-quarter lengths, with the favourite Dinnie’s Vinnie back in sixth.

This 8/1 shot was a dual winner between the flags for the Ballymartle Syndicate from Riverstick and the trainer’s wife Mary remarked: “She was very promising when she won her point-to-points and we thought we were going for all kinds of things, but it just took time to get her right. She’s tough and she did it well. We’ll look for something similar at Christmas.”

Rhinestone, from the Joseph O’Brien yard, was the most impressive winner on the day when running away with the Ryan Tarmacadam (Pro/Am) Flat Race. Runner-up to subsequent Cork winner Athenean in a three-runner race at Punchestown, the Derek O’Connor-ridden 11/4 chance completed a double for his owner J.P. McManus with his all-the-way success. The four-year-old son of Montjeu opened up from over a furlong out to slam the short-priced favourite Sancta Simona by 19 lengths, with a further seven back to Ronald Pump in third.

“It was a good performance,” O’Connor acknowledged. “The first day he didn’t rightly relax when there was a slow pace and, it’s important to relax in soft ground, but he’s a nice horse. That was the mistake we made the last day and he likes to dictate.”

In-form rider Donie McInerney teamed up with Paul Nolan to set up a brace of winners for McManus when recording a three-quarter-length victory aboard market leader Fizhenry in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase. In front between the last two, the 11/8 favourite had to be rousted after the final fence and looked sure to be swallowed up by Routes Choice on the run-in, but held on to win in the colours of the race’s sponsor.

“We’ll look for something over a longer trip because he definitely wants three miles,” remarked the trainer. “He’s only young and hopefully he’ll get better. I’ll keep him to handicapping and he might pick up another one.”

HAT-TRICK

The Henry de Bromhead-trained High School Days, with 5lb claimer Dylan Robinson in the plate, completed a hat-trick of wins over timber with her fluent four and three-quarter-length success over Dorkas in the Richard Brennan Fencing Services Handicap Hurdle.

Her trainer said: “We struggled to win a maiden hurdle with her in the summer, but changed tactics and she seems to be loving it. Dylan was great on her and she’s starting to get up the ranks. She’s some mare over a fence, but she’s only a four-year-old and still a novice.”

Barry Connell’s Punchestown winner Dom Dolo put up a good performance to capture the Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle for trainer Alan Fleming, drawing clear before the final flight under Denis O’Regan and surviving an awkward jump at the last to defeat Laverteen by five and a half lengths at odds of 100/30.

O’Regan related: “The race fell apart in front of me and I got a nice slip through on the rail and kicked on. He’s still a bit weak and backward, but hopefully he can be progressive. He’s a nice horse for next year.”

Landers’ ban

BITVIEW Colin’s rider Cathal Landers picked up a four-day ban in the third race for using his whip with excessive frequency and was additionally ordered to attend RACE for one day’s tuition in the correct use of the whip.

Acting Stewards

N.P. Lambert, P. Dowling, J. Murphy, L. Walsh.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

BEN BRODY (S. Byrne): Noted travelling well all the way in the rated novice hurdle, he came under pressure with two flights remaining on his drop back in trip from three miles. May be able to build on that in the coming weeks.