THE Noel Meade-trained Joey Sasa warmed up for a second crack at the Guinness Galway Hurdle when proving a length and a half too strong for the top-weighted favourite Wicklow Brave in Thursday’s Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle.

Sean Flanagan’s mount, an 8/1 chance, was always travelling well in the colours of Eamon Duignan, heading the ‘good thing’ at the second last and asserting before the final flight to collect in good style.

The runner-up gave a good account of himself on his return to hurdling with Paul Townend commenting: “He ran well but just didn’t pick up,” but it was Joey Sasa’s day and Flanagan said: “If it hasn’t taken too much out of him, that’ll set him up nicely for the Galway Hurdle.

“He’s a nice horse who started late in life because he couldn’t be caught. That’s his first win in a graded race but he’s been running well in competitive handicaps and he ran in the Galway Hurdle last year when he was still quite novicey.”

The jockey continued: “He was a little bit disappointing at Punchestown, where we probably ran him back too quick but Noel freshened him up and I was fairly confident today on ratings. He’s quick and clever and is a nice horse to look forward to.”

The Listed Coolmore Pride Of Dubai Tipperary Stakes shared top billing with the Grimes Hurdle and this fell to Land Force, representing the father and son duo of Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien and the Coolmore partners Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, by a comfortable margin.

Ballydoyle

The Norfolk Stakes third went to the front over a furlong down and opened up from there to justify 8/13 favouritism by two lengths from Mintd. The master of Ballydoyle, who agreed that last weekend’s Irish Derby success for his two sons was “unbelievable and special – it will be hard to improve on that,” said of Land Force: “He had a lovely run in Ascot and the plan would be to go to the July meeting (at Newmarket) for the July Stakes.”

The same duo and band of owners had earlier got their evening off to the best possible start with a comfortable all-the-way one-length success for multiple Group 1 performers Highland Reel and Idaho’s full-brother Cape Of Good Hope who made it third time lucky in the Glenvale Stud Race.

The 7/4 favourite’s trainer later said: “There’s more to come and he’ll step into one of those listed races like the Tyros Stakes. He’s very green and it just took him a while to learn.”

HELICOPTER

Michael O’Callaghan’s Florida-based owner Robert Moran and a few of his friends caused quite a stir when flying in by helicopter from his West Cork holiday home to see his 7/4 favourite Rionach do the business under Colin Keane in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

The hot-pot got on top in the closing stages for a one-length win over Vivianite, after which O’Callaghan stated: “We only got her at Christmas but we thought a lot of her at home and we’ve just been waiting for a bit of nice ground.

“We put the hood on her because she’s been a little bit enthusiastic in her races early on and it did the job and switched her off.

“She’s a Sea The Stars filly with a good pedigree, out of a blacktype Royal Applause mare, and potentially she’s a filly who could get a bit of blacktype. We’ll take it baby steps with her and see what the handicapper does.”

DOUBLE

The Costello’s Tavern 45-70 Handicap was the final flat race on the card in which Stormy Tale set up an across-the-board double for Mick Mulvany, completed by My Silver Nail closer to home at his local track of Bellewstown.

Conquest and Liffeydale Dreamer were sent off the 3/1 joint-favourites but there was no catching the 9/2 winner who was kept at full stretch by Ben Coen to defeat So Enjoy by three and a quarter lengths.

Mulvaney trains the grey Stormy River filly for his father Larry and remarked: “I though she was a little bit unlucky in Leopardstown where she was cut off when she was coming with her run. She seems to be improving.

“Ben has ridden a few placed horses for me but that’s his first winner. I think he’s a very good young fellow and well worth his 7lb claim.”

Rodger Sweeney’s consistent nine-year-old Cadawill held the determined challenge of market leader Timmone when springing a 25/1 surprise under Andrew Lynch in the three-mile 80-95 handicap hurdle.

The slightly bemused Castlelyons trainer said of his wife Joan’s shock winner: “He’s earning a bit of money all the time but Andrew is the only man who gets on with him. On his last two turns he didn’t do a tap.”

Lynch was fortunate to escape serious injury in the finale when his mount Dennehys Pride was a first flight casualty in the two and a half-mile maiden hurdle, won by the always prominent Willie Mullins-trained 3/1 joint-favourite Shoulda Lied. The other joint-favourite Achiever finished fourth.

The facile Paul Townend-ridden nine and a half-length winner was yet another success for the Supreme Horse Racing Club and Courtney L. Barr and the four-year-old’s pilot commented: “He improved plenty for the run in Downpatrick and, hopefully, he can improve and be a bit of fun for them for the summer.”