TRAINER Denis Hogan is going into Galway with all guns blazing after a double through his father Martin’s previous point-to-point bumper winner Jack The Wire and the Adrian McNamara-owned Eiri Na Casca at Tipperary’s family fun day last Sunday.

The Cloughjordan native rode both winners and revealed, after the imposing Jack The Wire had justified 9/4 favouritism in the Packie Downey Memorial 0-109 Handicap Chase – by two and three-quarter lengths from Magnetic Force – that this “was his first handicap and they went hell for leather all the way.

“I don’t think he jumped a fence on the first circuit and I thought I was beaten after two fences. The last three were the only three he was good at, but his class got him through. We’ll see about Galway but he’s in a tricky place and I’m not sure if he’ll travel. I’m sure the family would love to go and maybe he’ll run on the Sunday.”

Hogan turned in a near repeat masterclass aboard Eiri Na Casca when taking command in the Tipperary Town Plaza Plate Handicap Chase at the final obstacle on his way to a one-length success at a price of 9/1. All the money here was for Robin De Roost who was in front when taking a crashing fall four out.

The eventual winner, one of two horses his Killaloe owner has with Hogan, was driven out to get the better of The Gatechecker in good style, after which his rider commented: “It was very similar to the other one.

“They went hard early and he was slow over the first couple. His last four jumps were big, scopey ones and he’s good and game. He’s won around Galway before and is an out and out chaser and he’ll probably run in the Galway Blazer. I’m lucky to have great staff and owners.”

McMANUS

Joseph O’Brien continues to churn out the winners for J.P. McManus. He struck in the Walter Hennessy Auctioneer, Valuer and Agent MIPAV Maiden Hurdle with the potentially useful 4/5 favourite Bhutan who kept the leaders within his sights and sprinted away in the closing stages under Jody McGarvey to take Born To Size’s measure by three and three-quarter lengths.

“He’s a nice horse and he has a big engine,” said the trainer. “Hopefully he’ll progress with racing. He’s still green and Jody said off the last bend he got a little bump and wasn’t sure what to do, but he came back on the bridle coming to the second last. I thought he went to the line very well.

“His jumping has to improve and we’ll see how he comes out of the race. It was a big ask to run in a Grade 1 on his hurdling debut and he’s an inexperienced horse – not like most other horses coming off the flat.”

Susannah Ricci’s French import Cap D’Aubois relished the three-mile trip of the Great National Ballykisteen Golf Hotel Hurdle to make a successful return to action following a 182-day break for the Ruby Walsh/ Willie Mullins partnership.

Sent to post as the 4/7 favourite, the five-year-old was never too far away and, jumping the last slightly better than his rival Thanks For Tea, was pushed out to claim the spoils by four lengths.

Walsh reported: “He’s been a hard horse to place because he won a €13,000 race in France, which puts him out of any €10,000 race here. The conditions today suited him well and three miles seemed to suit him. He might find life difficult from now on.”

Eugene O’Sullivan, who was due back from holidays that evening, sent out Gold Smoke to take the Adare Manor Opportunity 80-109 Handicap Hurdle in splendid isolation by an eight and a half-length margin in the hands of Cathal Landers who was riding his fourth winner.

The 7/1 shot got the better of the favourite Persistent in good style in the colours of the Crooked Throw Syndicate and the winning trainer’s daughter Maxine said: “Cathal gave her a super ride – I thought he might have gone a bit too soon but she was fit and he had it covered.

“We always knew she had the ability and we’ll find something similar for her in Cork in two or three weeks time. She just took a while to mature.”

POINTS WINNER

Dual point-to-point winner Pass The Ball never put a foot wrong under jockey Niall Madden in the Riptide Movement Live At Tipperary 11th August Beginners Chase to score first time over fences with a comfortable all-the-way four and a half length success in the well-known livery of J.P. McManus.

The rider’s father and namesake commented: “He really enjoyed that and we’ll try and find something similar for him.

“Niall thought they ‘walked’ and that’s why he let him bowl along.”

Gordon Elliott had the final say on the card when Frank Morris’s newcomer Kala Minstrel, a 14/1 chance with Lisa O’Neill in the saddle, skated up by two lengths from the market leader Fabulous Saga in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Flat Race.

O’Neill admitted: “That was a nice surprise. She was thrown in at the weights and has been training a nice bit at home.

“She’s a bit unexposed, but looks as if she’s got the right credentials and should be up to a winners’ bumper.”

Acting Stewards

S. McDonogh, P. Curling, P. McLernon, A.J. Molloy, S. Quinn.

HORSES TO FOLLOW

THE WINKLER (E. Doyle) Despite not having run in a chase for while, he showed commendable zeal in finishing well to take third behind Eiri Na Casca. Could be worth following at his local track of Tramore.