DANIEL King partnered his first winner over fences as he guided Say It Ain’t So (18/1) to a surprise win in the featured KOG Logistics Handicap Chase.

The Kayf Tara gelding, having his first start for over eight months, improved into a share of the lead on the approach to the second last and battled gamely on the run-in to beat Pats Choice by a neck.

Ray Hackett trains the winner for the Gleeson & Kearney Partnership and said: “He’s a horse that kind of gets himself fit so not over-training him is the key.

“I know Dan from Denis Hogan’s yard which is only over the road from us. I’ve watched him a good bit and he just sits there and drops his hands on them so I knew he’d suit this horse.”

Breakthrough

The well-backed Bugscuffle (9/2) made the breakthrough on his third start for trainer Andrew McNamara as he claimed the Burke’s Clonbur Handicap Hurdle.

Dillon Maxwell’s mount hit the front approaching the last and stayed on well to fend off Glenmalure Lodge by two and a half lengths.

The eight-year-old is owned in partnership by Denis O’Mahony, Daibheid McHugh and Desmond Kelly.

“The owners are from Donegal and I think they’d a few quid on him, so they’re happy,” McNamara revealed.

“He has the same mark over fences and you’d be hoping there might be a day in him doing that as well”

A GRADE 2 winner over hurdles at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting, Hercule De Seuil added a touch of class to proceedings at Ballinrobe on Tuesday and was sent off odds-on for his debut over fences in the Burleigh Accountancy Beginners Chase.

He set out to make all but was upstaged by fellow chasing debutant Senecia (13/2) who tracked him throughout before leading at the last and staying on well to beat the market leader by a length and a quarter.

Ian Power was on board the winner, in the colours of Laurence Halley, for Waterford trainer Vincent Halley.

“His Grade 3 form at Cork was very good and he’s probably strengthened up this year,” said the latter. “Last year he won a maiden hurdle at Wexford very nicely but had a lot of niggles after that.

“I think he’s at his best on nicer ground and if we can get a bit more experience with him over the summer then we’ll hopefully work our way up the ladder.”

Hercule De Seuil’s trainer Willie Mullins did get off the mark for the new National Hunt season when Evens favourite Readin Tommy Wrong impressively dismissed 13 rivals in the concluding Jennings Meats INH Flat Race.

Second in a Bellharbour point-to-point for Pat Doyle, the imposing Authorized gelding was settled in mid-division by Jody Townend before sweeping to the front on the approach to the straight and from there he stayed on strongly to score by seven lengths from Arabian Diamond.

Townend, in the silks of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: “His work at home has been good enough but he only does what he has to.

“You can work him with anything and he’d just do enough but it’s the right way to have them. He’s a fine big horse and you could see him jumping a fence in time.

BOTH divisions of the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle saw favourites oblige with the first split won by Lucid Dreams (9/4) under Liam Quinlan.

The eight-year-old, who only made his debut in March, sat second before coming through to lead after the second-last and went away to beat Make The Plan by eight and a half lengths.

Winning owner/trainer John Ryan said: “He’s a special horse. He’s big, strong, clear-winded and sound. He’s by Arcadio and loves a bit of nice ground. The dam is a half-sister to Monkerhostin.

“He’s huge, 17 hands, and that’s why he hasn’t run until lately.”

The second division saw Banntown Girl land odds of 8/13 in the hands of Philip Byrnes.

Always prominent, she led from halfway but was joined by Conyers Hill at the last before finding more to beat that rival by three and a half lengths.

Sonny Carey, who trains the daughter of Stowaway for her breeder Mr B Hutchinson, said: “It’s great to get her off the mark over hurdles. She’s a great mare, fifteen runs, two wins, twelve more times in the first four and just one bad run at Cheltenham.

“She has a mark over fences so we could do that at some stage.”

Can’t Stop Smiling

Ridden by Charlie O’Dwyer, the Aidan Howard-trained Can’t Stop Smiling (17/2) came from off the pace to readily land the West Tyre Opportunity Handicap Hurdle by 12 lengths from Skip Mahler.

“They went quite hard in front and she stays well,” said racing manager Frank Berry.

“Charlie is a good young lad who is keen and he’s learning on the job.”

The second McManus-owned winner, Showurappreciation (3/1) in the Supermac’s Maiden Hurdle, was, like the first, bred by his wife Noreen.

Trained in Co Cork by Jonathan Sweeney and ridden by Jody McGarvey, the Mastercraftsman gelding was stepping up in trip to two miles and five furlongs and hit the front on the run-in to beat All For Rachel by a length and three quarters.

“He’s bred to win a Derby, he has a great pedigree,” Sweeney commented. “He’ll go out to grass now and might stay over hurdles when he comes back but we’ll see what the boss says.”