RICHARD O’Brien is better known as a flat trainer but he has now won with three of the four horses that he has run under National Hunt rules this season after Shanbally Kid bolted up in the bumper to make himself a valuable prospect.

On his debut, the John Hayes-owned and bred gelding finished down the field in a Thurles bumper won by I Am Fortunata a couple of months ago but on his first outing for O’Brien a much better showing was expected. was backed from as big as 66/1 overnight into a starting price of 9/1 and he turned in a smart display under Eoin O’Brien.

He made all the running and seemed to be doing everything at his leisure before readily brushing aside the favourite, Polo Lounge, inside the last quarter of a mile for a smooth six-and-a-half-length triumph.

“A lot of the credit goes to Colm Ryan who works with me and does a lot of the breaking and pre-training. Colm really built the horse up after a break and he came to me three weeks ago and has been terrific since,” said O’Brien.

“It was a smashing performance and if you look back at his Thurles run (which was for Philip Fenton), he was green and got tired but did show a little bit. He has only come to himself and blossomed since.”

Third success

Earlier, the father and son team of Conor and Charlie O’Dwyer enjoyed their third success of the season when Fanoir (5/2) landed the mares’ maiden hurdle.

A creditable second to Micro Manage at Thurles last month suggested this Hugo Kane-owned mare would be able to play a leading role and she moved to the front with an air of authority at the fourth last.

The strong-travelling mare always looked to be in control and a much better jump at the second last than the favourite, Crossgales Ophelia, set her up for a near five-length triumph over Mrs Paisley.

“When we entered her the race was two miles, two furlongs but when I declared yesterday morning it was two miles three and 137 yards and I thought oh God,” reflected O’Dwyer.

“I didn’t mind stepping up two furlongs (in trip from Thurles) but didn’t want three or more! When I saw her being so keen, I thought she’d never get home but she stayed. She will be a smashing mare for the summer.”

Jimmy Barcoe, who sent out a one-two at Tramore on Monday, added to his haul when Courting Vickie (16/1) finally got her turn in the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle over just short of two and a half miles.

The Barcoe-owned eight-year-old lined up as a 22-race maiden but she had plenty of creditable efforts to her name and was a more than deserving winner.

Jockey Kieran Callaghan got her to the front before two out and the pair went on to defeat Iridescent by just under three lengths.

IT was an evening to savour for Ambrose McCurtin who notched up a double which began with the evening’s most impressive winner, The Emancipator, in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase over just short of three miles.

The Terence O’Brien inmate was making his debut over fences after reaching the first four on his last five outings over hurdles and he looked a natural in this discipline.

In the colours of the Terence O’Brien Racing Club and on his debut for that trainer, the six-year-old moved into a useful lead with a bold jump at the fourth last and he turned this into a one-sided affair in the straight. At the line, the six-year-old had 20 lengths to spare as he produced a performance in keeping with his position as the well backed 7/4 favourite.

“We bought him from Donie Hassett six weeks ago and he said he’d be a better horse over fences,” said O’Brien.

“He jumped really well and Ambrose is a great horseman. He got down to 10st 8lb for this and I’d say he didn’t have much to eat for the last few days. There’s 30 in the syndicate and hopefully we’ll have plenty of fun with this horse for the summer.”

McCurtin brought up his double aboard the 97-rated Crosshouse Boy in the opportunity maiden hurdle over two miles.

Eugene O’Sullivan’s charge had prospects on several of his runs earlier in the season and got a positive ride which enabled him to take control of this race early in the straight en route to a six-length victory over the well-backed Housemartin (5/1).

The half-brother to Westerner Point, owned by the Lockdown Crew Syndicate, was making it eight winners for the season for O’Sullivan which is the trainer’s best tally for 14 years.