AFTER spending over a month on the sidelines with a broken collarbone Jack Kennedy marked his second day back in the saddle by joining forces with Gordon Elliott for a double which took in a comeback success for Frontal Assault in the Mongey Communications Chase.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned seven-year-old ended last season with an excellent second in the Irish Grand National and looks as though he will again be a force in top staying handicaps, on this evidence. Frontal Assault was expected to come on a good deal for his first run since the Irish National with the result that he was allowed to go off at 5/2 as he went in search of his first win over fences.

In a race where his race fit rivals struggled to land a blow, Frontal Assault took charge of this race after the last and on the arduous climb to the line, he maintained a decent lead over Darrens Hope whom he defeated by four and a half lengths.

“He’ll improve plenty so I’d be happy with that and he has loads of options going forward in the big handicaps while he is also a novice for the season too. Maybe he’s one for the Troytown at Navan next month,” commented the trainer.

Elliott and Kennedy were earlier successful when Music Drive took advantage of a good opportunity in the Tote Always SP Or Better Maiden Hurdle. A very useful bumper horse last season, the five-year-old was sent off at 2/5 for this two-and-a-half-mile event and did what was required. The David Barnard-owned five-year-old moved to the head of the field before the last and just needed to be kept up to his work on the run in to finish just under three lengths ahead of the 125/1 outsider Tomas O Maille.

“I thought he looked a bit big beforehand and Jack said he’d come on a lot from this. I think he’ll improve as he goes up in trip and we’ll look for a novice race over further for him,” commented Elliott.

It was also a good day for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue who enjoyed a double which was completed by Jeremys Flame in the Guinness Handicap Chase over an extended two and a quarter miles.

A very smart graded-class performer last season, Jeremys Flame was beaten at odds-on in a Bellewstown hurdle last month, but this run was much more in keeping with her abilities. The 9/4 favourite, who is owned by the Flushfarm Racing Syndicate, produced a nice effort to secure the fifth success of her career. The front-running Kitty Galore proved a tenacious opponent but Jeremys Flame ground her down on the run-in to score by two and a quarter lengths. The Paddy Power Chase at Christmas is an option for the winner.

The well-named Money Heist provided the first leg of the double in the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle. The winner struggled to make an impression in maiden hurdles and beginners’ chases last season but was backed from 5/1 into 5/4 favouritism to turn in a much-improved effort on his first outing since April.

For most of the straight it seemed as though Money Heist might have to settle for a minor role behind Brandy Harbour but from somewhere Keith Donoghue conjured a powerful late charge from his mount to land in front on the line.

The winning jockey picked up a one-day whip ban while Robbie Geoghegan, who rode the second, was given a nine-day whip suspension.

Shark’s star rises again

THE smart Hallowed Star notched up his third success at Galway and his first outside the Festival in the beginners’ chase over two and a quarter miles. Shark Hanlon’s charge, who bagged a big handicap hurdle success here in the summer, dominated from the front for Danny Mullins.

The four-year-old Iberique Du Seuil threatened to make a race of things after three out but was beaten before the two fences in the dip as the Annette Mee-owned son of Sea The Stars powered home to defeat Caesar Rock by 19 lengths. The 7/4 favourite was progressing on a second to Sit Down Lucy on his chasing debut here last month.

“He did it well and he got his own way up front which was a help. I’m delighted to have this out of the way and his jumping was much better than it was here last time,” stated Hanlon.

“He’ll probably step up in trip now and he’s had a light-enough season so I would say that he’ll stay going for another few months.”

Barry Connell has been maintaining a fine strike lately and he made it three winners from his last three runners when Hgranca De Thaix bolted up in the Ryans Cleaning Handicap Hurdle on his first outing since January. This five-year-old showed promise in all four of his handicap hurdle runs last season and looks to have progressed nicely since he was last in action.

Mikey O’Sullivan was on board the 11/8 favourite who was swinging along on the bridle when he moved up to head Pats Choice facing up to the last hurdle. With imperceptible effort the Connell-owned gelding stormed clear of his discouraged rivals on the run in to reach the line with 17 lengths to spare.

“I’d say he’ll end up being a three-mile horse and when he hit the hill he picked up and got going,” remarked the trainer. “There is a two-and-a-half-mile novice handicap hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas and I’m not sure if he will run again before then.”

Another in form trainer is Noel Meade and he introduced a nice type in Affordale Fury who made a winning debut in the four-year-old bumper. From the promising first crop of Affinisea, this 5/2 chance turned in a likeable effort.

He caught the eye throughout having travelled nicely for Pat Taaffe on the outside of the field and then knuckled down well in the straight to see off the favourite Allibaba and prevail by four and a half lengths.

“I think the softer the ground the better he will be. He’s a really nice horse and he stays very well,” commented Meade who is now hoping to send his charge hurdling.