EASILY the most interesting race of the day was the Mulryan Auctioneers Mares Maiden Hurdle which brought together two of last season’s best bumper mares in Battling Bessie and Law Ella, but it was the high-profile pointing recruit Deeply Superficial who played a starring role.

The first leg of a double for Gordon Elliott, the Alymer Stud-owned five-year-old was sent off at 11/8 despite lacking previous experience on the track.

Deeply Superficial was always nicely placed and responded well to Davy Russell’s promptings to head the front-running Littel Flour at the last.

Once she got to the front, Deeply Superficial kept on strongly to defeat Law Ella by three and a quarter lengths.

“She’s a very nice mare. It was her first run on the track and she was taking on some experienced and classy mares so I was hoping for a good run and I’m delighted with how she did it,” stated Elliott.

“She’s good and she’s got a future and we’ll step her into blacktype company next month, probably at either Punchestown or Thurles.”

Elliott then added to his tally with Fortunedefortunata who made a taking Irish debut in the Kirby Group Handicap Hurdle over two miles.

Unknown quantity

This Mike Grech-owned son of Soldier Of Fortune ran just twice in Britain last season, winning on his debut, and looked an unknown quantity off a mark of 109.

In a race where low-lying sun meant that all the hurdles in the backstraight were bypassed, the winner cruised along with aplomb for Denis O’Regan.

The 5/1 chance still looked to have plenty of running to give when he moved into the lead approaching the final flight and he went on to record a smooth six and a half lengths triumph.

This useful looking handicapper was providing the winning jockey with a welcome change in fortune as he injured his shoulder in a fall at Navan in mid-September and this was just his third day back in action.

Shocked

Mel Monroe was sent off at odds-on to give Elliott a treble in the Front Door Fillies (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race but after doing everything right she was shocked by the 66/1 chance Mi Lucky Cailin.

A first winner in just over 10 years for trainer William McLernon, the daughter of Milan looked held in second entering the final furlong.

However, the Deadman’s Inn Syndicate-owned four-year-old found another gear for Aine O’Connor to nail the market leader in the closing strides and went on to carry the day by a length and a quarter.

“She is a smart mare and it wasn’t really a surprise. She was very impressive in a schooling bumper at Tipperary 10 days ago and is tough, genuine and loves pleasing you,” stated the trainer.

“My father worked for the Turf Club, was a course inspector here and won the amateur handicap at the festival here in 1968 and 69.”

Coachman delivers

ON his first start since landing the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle last February, Thedevilscoachman got off the mark over fences at the third attempt in the Winabmw.ie Irish EBF Beginners Chase over an extended two and three-quarter miles.

The Noel Meade-trained six-year-old, who ran to a high standard on his two chase runs last term, made a couple of mistakes over the course of the race.

However, he was travelling strongly in the lead facing up to the last two fences and the 5/6 favourite retained control of the race on the run for home. He eventually carried the day by a length and three-quarters from Churchstonewarrior.

“The softer ground was a help to him as it slow things down a bit,” stated Meade. “He is learning as he goes along but his jumping is still a bit sticky although he jumped when he wanted him. He will improve as he goes along, he gets that trip easily and loves that soft ground.”

Meade went on to record a double courtesy of Affordale Fury (11/8) in the Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate Maiden Hurdle over two and three-quarter miles.

This son of Affinisea tanked through the race for Bryan Cooper as he looked to build on his debut bumper success at this track several weeks previously.

Recovered well

The favourite wasn’t that fluent three out and was clumsy at the last flight but he recovered well to defeat the decent bumper horse Monbeg Park by three lengths.

“He did everything wrong but still won. The loose horse affected him as he was running away the whole way and it affected his jumping. He has an engine but isn’t slow either,” commented Meade.

“I would have been happy to run him over two miles but with the way the races fell I ran him here. He might now head for the Monskfield Novice Hurdle at Navan.”

Just over half an hour after beginners’ chase won by Thedevilscoachman Liz Doyle’s Flash De Touzaine (11/1) ran out a commanding winner of the Marlin Hotel Dublin Handicap Chase in a time that was just under four seconds quicker than that of the first-named winner.

The unexposed seven-year-old, who carries the colours of Justin Carthy and was making his fifth appearance over fences, was showing in front some way from home for Richie Deegan.

The Kapgarde gelding cleared the last fence in great style and defeated the former Cheltenham Gold Cup sixth Real Steel by eight lengths.

The winner appeals as a candidate for a major handicap prize at some stage this season.

Moon shines bright for Durkan

THE useful Favorite Moon (6/5) made it two wins from three starts over hurdles in the Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle.

As he bounced back from an unplaced run in the English Cesarewitch, the five-year-old found himself with plenty to do on the final circuit as the free going French import Friendly Star had built up a commanding lead.

The Bill Durkan-owned and trained Favorite Moon closed in steadily from before the second last though and pounced on the run-in to score by a length and a half.

A three-mile novice hurdle at Cheltenham next month could be on the winner’s agenda.

The stewards did intend to enquire into the running and riding of the Tony Martin-trained Friendly Star. As a result of the trainer’s representative having no written notification of his appointment, the matter was referred on to the IHRB.

The Pat Kelly-trained Captain Jimmy repeated last year’s victory in the 0-109 rated Glenman Corporation Handicap Chase over two and three-quarter miles.

Galway-born but English-based conditional jockey Aaron Anderson was on board the Declan Cunningham-owned nine-year-old.

On his first outing since March the 10/1 chance got home by a neck from My Friend The Wind after the pair did battle over the course of the last furlong.