CIAN Collins has made a bright start to training since gaining a licence this summer and, after sending out Diegos Way to score at Bangor on Tuesday, saddled his second winner in the space of 48 hours as 16/1 shot Robinstown made a successful reappearance in the featured www.grahamnorris.com Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

The former Gordon Elliott-trained gelding, reappearing after a six-month break and having his first run for Collins, was prominent throughout under Jordan Gainford and rallied strongly from before the last to beat Time Marches On by a length and a half.

“He is a tough horse who just gallops all day and could be one for a Pertemps Qualifier at Punchestown next month. Jordan was very good on him,” said Collins of the One For No Reason Syndicate’s gelding. “I had him point-to-pointing and then Gordon had him, so it is great to get him back and win first time out.

“I’m delighted with how the horses are running and have about 12 for the winter,” added Collins who is based just outside Trim and has also won two big handicap hurdles at Killarney and Ffos Las with Effernock Fizz.

Soft surprise

Whosgotyanow (6/1) upset the odds when taking the Start Your Free Trial At //racingtv.com/join Mares Chase. Magic Daze was sent off the 2/7 favourite against just three rivals but found little when asked for an effort after two out as Cian Quirke’s mount galloped on strongly to score by eight lengths.

“We had race-fitness on our side and were going all summer,” explained a surprised winning trainer, Andy Slattery. “We were afraid of the ground (soft to heavy) and put the tongue-tie on as she had her palate operated on before. We’ll go for a handicap chase now or else look for blacktype in mares’ chases. Ronan (Tynan, owner) is a breeder at the end of the day.”

Eight-length Drama

The other chase on the card produced a fairytale result as Capture The Drama rolled back the years and also justified good support in the Clonmel Oil Chase Day November 17 Handicap Chase.

The 14-year-old gelding, scoring for the 10th time under rules and bridging a near four-year gap without a win, was well-backed on track from 14/1 into 15/2 and typically prominent throughout under Gavin Brouder. A huge jump at the last settled the issue before staying on strongly to beat Fly De Megaudais by eight lengths.

“At his age he should be retired with all the racing he has done, but he’s never put a lame step since the day I bought him,” said delighted owner/trainer Aengus King. “At home you’d swear he never saw the gallop and he is mad - you’d get up on him and only hope to stay on! I rode him up to two years ago and during all his wins in 2016 and ‘17. He keeps you fit and I lost five stone in five months on him!”

He added: “I bought him as a four-year-old for €1,200 and he was so difficult for the first two years. Another man would have said bye-bye to him but I kept at him, kept him quiet and out of the blue one day he won at 100/1.”

Debut comes together for Halibut

HALIBUT, trained by Emmet Mullins for Chris Jones, justified odds of 2/5 on his jumping debut in the Cashel Maiden Hurdle but only after a scare or two. Keith Donoghue briefly lost an iron after meeting the second flight all wrong and the Balko gelding was also far from fluent at the last before cruising clear to beat Cillians Charm by a facile seven and a half lengths.

Mullins said: “It was an indifferent round of jumping and he has a lot to learn but fingers crossed he can improve. The engine is there but we have to put a few pieces together yet. I’d say we will definitely be thinking about a smaller rather than bigger race next.”

The father and son team of Tom and Charlie Mullins successfully combined with Hey Johnny in the Powerstown Demesne (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle. The 3/1 favourite, a half-brother to the smart Sir Gerhard, struck the front after two out and kept on strongly to account for Marelly by two and a quarter lengths.

“He went off the boil last year and was fresh and well from the run at Punchestown,” said the Goresbridge trainer. “Charlie was very cool on him. I’d say the ground doesn’t matter and two miles suits at the moment.

“The owner (Joe Fitzpatrick) wants to have a runner at Cheltenham in November and there’s a novice handicap there, if he fits into it.”

A winning start for Henning

DANIEL King got the better of Bill Lee in a tight finish 24 hours earlier at the Curragh and showed his versatility as Henning got her jumping career off to a winning start in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle. The Rob Hennelly-owned 12/1 shot just proved stronger in the closing stages of a three-way battle beating Sainte Dona and Roccos Inspiration by a neck and half a length.

“She didn’t jump great but once she warmed up into it she got better and galloped all the way to the line. I bided my time and she jumped the last two well. She is tall and still learning so will come on from that run,” said King, younger brother of former champion apprentice Connor.

Lizlucky added to a bumper win at Punchestown last year when overcoming a mistake at the penultimate flight to land the Suir Blueway Handicap Hurdle. The 11/1 chance kept on well after a fine leap at the last to beat Tomjackwilliam by a length and a half.

“She hasn’t been the most straightforward to train and the girls at home have done a great job to keep her muscles right,” said trainer Pat Foley. “Philip (Enright) said she ran the whole way to the line. We’ll keep her to hurdles this season and a race like the mares’ handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival is a possibility. I’m delighted for Leo (McCormack, owner) as he hasn’t been feeling well lately and barely got here today so that’ll make him up.”