JOCKEY Danny Mullins enjoyed an excellent 2021/’22 season with wins in the King George Chase and Stayers’ Hurdle and got off the mark for the new campaign last Saturday, steering 18/1 chance Miranda Priestly to win Cork’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Running for owner Michael Foley and rated just 98, the daughter of Snow Sky raced with the leaders and eventually out-battled 5/4 favourite Nos Na Gaoithe on the run-in for a head win.

Winning trainer Barry Fitzgerald later said: “She was a nice filly from day one and I think Snow Sky is a good stallion. I liked her in her bumper days but she lost her way. I have started training her from the paddock now and she has settled down a lot more.

“I thought she had a good chance and, while her jumping was sticky the last few days, it was very good today. Having the hood on her for the second time also helped her settle.

“She will stay going for the summer and she could go back on the flat as she has plenty of speed.”

Shadow in limelight

Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon himself enjoyed big-race success with Hewick in the Bet365 Gold Cup last month and bagged the opening Sign Up To Our Newsletter Maiden Hurdle with Fascinating Shadow (5/1), under jockey Jody McGarvey.

The winner carries the colours of the Great White Shark Syndicate and afterwards the trainer said: “I was advised to buy him out of Richard Hannon’s by Ross Doyle (bloodstock agent) and he was dead right.

“He is a good ground horse and I might wait until Galway with him now where he might go for one of those one-mile, six-furlong flat races. It is the same syndicate that owned Dime A Dozen but Paul Palmer, from Dublin, has joined to make it a four-member syndicate and I’m delighted for them.”

Luck changes as Kashi conquers

THE Karl Thornton-trained, Gary Ryan-owned Kashi (11/1) gained a deserved and overdue first win when landing the Coolagown Stud Rated Novice Hurdle under jockey Donagh Meyler.

The five-year-old son of Manduro was gambled on when falling at today’s venue last October, and recently filled the runner-up position on three of his last four runs but today scored comfortably by two and a quarter lengths from Evenwood Sonofagun.

Thornton said: “He has been unlucky and kept bumping into one and, while he was a few pounds wrong today, there wasn’t much else for him.

“They do a good job of watering down here so it was either run here or go out in a field. I thought he’d have more experience than some of the horses who had won maidens.

“He’ll still be eligible for novice rated races and will probably have a break now.”

Mask surprises

Metersandmasks caused a 20/1 upset to win the Follow Us On Twitter Handicap Hurdle, for trainer Charles Byrnes and jockey Philip Enright.

Making her reappearance, the daughter of Shirocco arrived from off the pace to eventually beat Rock On Seamie easily by eight lengths.

Byrnes later said: “It was a bit of a surprise but she was working well and we knew she was pretty fit. She was a wee bit disappointing in her handicap runs although we thought she’d run well today - but that was about it. She is a summer mare and that distance is fine.

“She will jump a fence and the plan was to put her over fences as she is brilliant to jump. The owners John and Pauline Twiss are from Killorglin in Kerry.”

Chiricahua finally

One-time smart flat performer Chiricahua (18/5) got off the mark on the sixth attempt over hurdles when landing the three-mile Mallow Maiden Hurdle for trainer Paul Nolan, jockey Sean O’Keeffe and owner Kay Browne.

Afterwards Nolan said: “That wasn’t before time. He has gone very behind-the-bridle and I thought early on today we were in bother.

“He just looks slow even at three miles and that’s the way it is.

“That’s his trip and I don’t think he’ll be moved much off 120 so might be able to run well in a handicap or in a winners of one.

“He has been on the go for the winter and, if the ground stays safe, he might stay going.”

Iridescent steps up in fine style

BROTHERS Jonathan and Mikey Fogarty combined to win the Racing Again May 18th Handicap Hurdle with the Touch Of Luck Syndicate owned Iridescent (6/1), who scored readily by seven and a half lengths from Hoganville.

Jockey Mikey Fogarty commented: “He was knocking on the door for the last while and stepping up to three miles was a help.

“In fairness the owners have been very patient with him and I’m delighted for them and it is nice to win when you are knocking on the door for so long. He won’t keep going through the summer. He has been on the go for a while but we might sneak one more run into him.”

Racing concluded with a 33/1 winner in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 4YO Fillies INH Flat Race, as newcomer Stormalong scored for trainer Ken Budds, jockey John Gleeson and owners Barbara and Ed Coleman.

Trainer Budds wasn’t surprised by the result and later reported: “I quietly fancied her and have plenty to collect!

“She is very well-related and we were going to point-to-point her but I started to get stuck into her three weeks ago and thought ‘This mare isn’t too bad’. I spoke to Eddie (Coleman) a fortnight ago and said instead of running the risk in a point-to-point we decided to come here.

“I don’t know if she is for sale, but she has loads of jumping done and has jumped a fence. She will be a real staying mare and ground isn’t an issue - it was safe ground today.”