DERMOT McLoughlin sent two horses north from his Co Meath stable and both returned home victorious.
Dixie Lee delivered her challenge between horses coming to the last in the Allied Bakeries Mares Maiden Hurdle. Having hit the front, the six-year-old mare kept on best to win by two lengths at 4/1, from as big as 9/1 in the morning.
McLoughlin said: “She’s a nice filly. Mark (Enright) said she came alive at the third last when he gave her a squeeze. She has a lot of speed. He said he had plenty of horse turning in so it’s all good.
“She’ll improve from that run. We’ll see what the owners (Tillie and PJ Conway) say about coming here in November. She wouldn’t want to be running on real winter ground. We’ll tip along.”
Uptake landed a punt from 16/1 to 10/1 in the Hovis Handicap Hurdle. The nine-year-old gelding, owned by Michael and Karl Slattery from Drumcondra, bounced back to form under Conor Maxwell to score by two and a half lengths.
“A good day at the office! I’m delighted for that horse, he’s consistent. Conor said he just loved that ground and kept travelling everywhere he put him,” McLoughlin said.
“We decided to drop him in and ride him a bit different. Thankfully it worked out. He jumped super and just idled a bit when he got to the front but he stays well. He has won on soft ground but he just seems to travel a bit sweeter on that ground (yielding).”
Jockey Sean Flanagan was also in double-winning form and Bosco Di Alco started the ball rolling in the Tayto Group Ltd Maiden Hurdle.
The B D A Syndicate’s horse found plenty on the run-in to draw four and three-quarter lengths clear at 8/1.
Afterwards, relieved trainer Liz Doyle said: “You’d be in the poor house if you followed this horse since he won his bumper here! He won his bumper really well in May (last year) and has had silent wind problems.
“I did his palate after Tramore this year and then he came out and Donagh (Meyler) was second on him. He then never travelled on the ground in Galway.
“That’s kind of the nice horse I thought he was. I just have to keep on top of the silent wind problems. There’s a nice Grade B handicap in Gowran and if the ground is good he’ll go there. It’s over three miles and he needs the three miles.”
Flanagan then drove Rashaan home to just collar Wakea in the Kerry Foods Hurdle over an extended three miles.
Wakea made a bold bid from the front but the even-money favourite stayed on well to catch him by a short-head and continue his love affair with Down Royal.
Trainer Colin Kidd said: “He got there, he got the job done! Sean said they didn’t go quick enough for him, if they had gone quicker he would have been better. We could nearly call him a course specialist at this stage [three from three at Down Royal].
“It definitely opens up more options for him. Without a doubt he stays three miles. We’ll look for something for him again before the winter ground comes and then we’ll put him away.
“It takes a fair horse to win 10 races, that’s his 10th one now. Sean always felt he was getting there. He pulls out enough, he does enough.”
This was a step up in trip for the five-year-old gelding who is owned by the trainer’s mother Amy Kidd and Rachelle Treacy.
Minnie Dahill bounded away from the last to take the Molson Coors N.I. 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle for Ted and Ruby Walsh. The 7/1 shot readily put three and a half lengths between himself and the runner-up, Vision D’Ete.
The trainer was represented by his daughter Katie Walsh who said: “She appreciated that nicer ground. She ran a nice race in Ballinrobe the last day but the ground was a bit nicer today.
“She has a lovely pedigree. It’s great to win a race with her especially for Micheal (Ryan, owner). It’s great, she jumped super and that always helps!”
Sierra Law (15/2) asserted after the final flight to take the Linden Foods Handicap Hurdle by three and a quarter lengths for owner Gary Ryan.
Co Dublin handler Karl Thornton said: “He’s been getting there. He’s only four and maybe still a bit weak in himself and is still learning the game. A typical flat horse – it takes a few runs over hurdles to get into the game.
“The young lad (Donagh Meyler) said he got murdered the last day and that you could go where you want with him and he would win the next day, and he was right.”
Meyler missed the ride as he was in Australia successfully competing in the Australia -v- Ireland Jockey Challenge.
Barry John Foley was on board Sierra Law but landed a two-day suspension for failing to give his mount time to respond to the whip.
True Self made it two out of two for Willie Mullins when she quickened well in the Dale Farm Dromona Mares Flat Race to justify 1/3 favouritism.
The result wasn’t in doubt once she got to the front inside the final furlong and she kept on nicely for Patrick Mullins to win going away by two and a half lengths.
Patrick Mullins said: “She was quite keen early on. She was a little worked up beforehand, the stableyard is quite close to where the horses gallop by.
“She has done it very easily. She got a little unbalanced crossing the road which has just made it look a bit more workmanlike than it felt. I think there is a listed mares’ bumper in Gowran at the end of this month and we’ll aim for there all being well.
“Neville Eager is the main man in the Three Mile House Partnership. He had horses with Dessie Hughes and Sandra Hughes until Sandra retired. He got in contact with us through Brian Hayes, who he sponsors, and I live with Brian. A friend of mine, Paul Byrne, picked her out at the Sales. She only cost 20 grand.”
ACTING STEWARDS
L. McFerran, Mrs T.K. Cooper, Mrs A. Millar,
F.G. Fitzsimmons,
P.D. Matthews.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
SIR ECTOR (N. McKenna): He was off the bridle a long way out but finished with a rattle. There could be another race or two in the veteran yet.