AS Thurles swung back to its traditional jumping action on Thursday, it proved to be a day of mixed fortune for Gordon Elliott. Jaunty Thor was the only bright spot for the Meathman when making it four wins from his last five outings in the Littleton Handicap Chase, the downside being unexpected reverses for two Gigginstown odds-on shots.

Jaunty Thor has certainly been earning his keep for the yard and the Call It What You Like Syndicate from Kilmessan and Trim in recent weeks and the manner of the 5/2 favourite’s half-length success under Davy Russell and a 6lb penalty suggests there could be more still to come.

“He’s been a great servant,” the trainer agreed. “It was a quick turnaround [from winning at Fairyhouse 48 hours earlier] and the trip wasn’t ideal – he was flat out early.

“He’s in Ayr next week and it wouldn’t be a big surprise if he turned up there.”

Rain In Spain is another progressive performer and, with Paul Townend renewing his partnership with the Just An Excuse Syndicate’s six-year-old in the Ballagh Mares Handicap Hurdle, the outcome was a positive one for her trainer Charles O’Brien.

Sent off 6/1 co favourite with Chisholm Trail (pulled up) and the fourth placed Red Pearl, the daughter of Jeremy headed the front-running Lockeen Girl before the last and opened up from there to see off Isobel’s Gold by three and a half lengths.

Townend said afterwards: “I won on her in Sligo and thought she should nearly have won in Punchestown. She jumps so well which is a big advantage and she’s improving away. Charles has done a good job with her.”

IMPORTANT

Andrew Lynch played an important role in D’Bru Na Boinne’s success in the Thurles Beginners Chase and trainer Ross O’Sullivan was quick to highlight the jockey’s input after the 7/1 winner had made most of the running to see off the persistent Can’t Be Done by half a length, with the favourite Ashjan back in sixth place.

“Andrew has ridden him work at home a good few times and knows him which is a big help,” said the Co Kildare trainer. “He ran in a handicap last time and just loses confidence when he gets in too close or hits a fence. Andrew said if he could get into a beginners and be left alone, he would be fine.

“He’s an experienced horse and, today, in a 0-102 beginners, he had a better chance of getting into a rhythm.”

The French-bred sports the white and red colours of Tommy Ward from Mountmellick who is in the recycling business and he joined his current trainer a couple of months ago from Jonjo O’Neill. O’Sullivan concluded: “He can possibly go for either a handicap hurdle or a handicap chase and the key to him is getting his confidence.”

Moratorium was a warm order to strike for the Elliott camp in the Thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle, only to disappoint when folding into fourth place behind J.P. McManus’s 100/30 winner Los Alamos. The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding touched down in front at the penultimate flight and pulled out a bit more at the finish for J.J. Slevin to contain the renewed effort of both An Fearchan and Kilchreest Moon by half a length and a head.

The rider, whose boss is still in Melbourne, reported: “He’s a good honest staying horse and he stuck at it well. Hopefully they’ll have a bit more fun with him.”

Frank Berry added: “He has been a bit disappointing but I’d say hurdling kept him interested today. He jumped well, handled the ground and has a bit of experience. We might try and win a race on the flat at Dundalk.”

BATTLING

Bay Hill clocked up his eighth win for the same owner when battling back close home under Liam Gilligan to snatch the verdict in the Two Mile Borris 80-109 Handicap Hurdle by a short-head from Benny In Milan. Lucky Phil, who appeared to run short of room, was a further two and three-quarters of a length away in third.

Following a stewards’ enquiry into two incidents of possible interference, no alteration was made to the result but Benny In Milan’s rider Denis Hogan picked up a one-day careless riding ban in relation to the first incident.

The 6/4 favourite’s trainer Padraig Roche commented: “He’s a great horse to have and Liam’s 7lb made the difference. While the ground is good, we might find something else for him – that’s his level. We might keep him for next summer after that because he’s a summer horse.”

Silk And Sand gave Joseph O’Brien a double when landing the Tobaradora INH Flat Race with the minimum of effort by a snug one and three-quarter lengths at the favourite Final List’s expense. The attractive 11/4 shot is from the family of Bordini and carries the colours of Seamus Dunne from Kilkenny.

Derek O’Connor is a good judge and the response from the Beat Hollow filly was instantaneous once he pushed the button on her second start. “She improved since Fairyhouse and she’s after winning quite readily. She should keep improving,” was his verdict.

TIMBER

Dunsany-based handler Andy Lynch has just three horses on the go at present and sent out 5/1 chance Under Surveillance, with Keith Donoghue in the saddle, to get off the mark over timber in the Templemore Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Owned by Aidan Murray from Castleboy in Co Galway, the nicely-bred Flemensfirth mare led before the last where market leader Tara Dylan rallied to come back again. Under Surveillance, however, found more on the run-in to prevail by half a length from Tillys Delight, with the ‘good thing’ a head away in third.

Lynch observed: “She was disappointing in Roscommon where she was brought down – I thought she’d win that day. She wants further but I’ll give her a break now and bring her back in early spring.”

Acting Stewards

J. Rearden, T.P. Rudd, R.E. Rohan, P. Dunican, P.D. Matthews.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

MINDSMADEUP (J. G. Sheehan): Placed five times in nine starts over fences, he has a wealth of experience but made a number of uncharacteristic errors. May prefer more of an ease in the ground.