ADO McGuinness bagged a double at the final meeting of the year at Bellewstown on Thursday with Star Harbour claiming the featured Kilsaran Race on the card. The Sea The Stars gelding showed heart to plough through the mud in the €20,000 contest and collar Roaring Gallagher late on.

Cian MacRedmond’s mount had come under pressure running down the hill but stuck to his task well to lead near the line for a neck success. It was a second win of the season for the 9/4 shot, who had claimed a Racing League race at Chepstow last month, and McGuinness said: “He came off the bridle as well then and then he comes back on it, he’s a bit of a grinder.

“I was a bit concerned about the ground today as he would want nicer ground but he’s a smart horse, a great fun horse. The boys (Total Recall Racing Club) have had great fun with him and have gone back and forth to England.

“We’ll probably run him on the last day in Leopardstown, in the mile-and-a-half handicap there. He’s handicapped over hurdles and we might try that again.”

Quick brace

It was a quick brace on the card for McGuinness as Distillate had claimed the preceding Goodenuftoeat Event Catering Handicap over five furlongs. Adam Caffrey steered the Havana Grey filly as she swooped early in the final furlong to record a cosy three-length win at odds of 7/1.

The winner is owned by Mark Devlin, Nigel O’Hare and Philip Smith and the winning trainer said of her: “I didn’t think she’d do it that well. She was unlucky the other day in the north, she just got caught in a pocket down the rail.

“Adam was cool because they went quick early doors and he left them at it. She came at them well and he was good on her, it’s hard to be patient in a five furlong sprint here but he was.”