AS the sun set on another year at Kilbeggan the performance of the evening came from the saddle as Sargent Lightfoot’s success in the beginners’ chase owed everything to Denis O’Regan.

A winner over hurdles here two months ago, the Adrian Murray-trained gelding looked to be adapting well to this new discipline until he clouted the fourth fence. O’Regan did amazingly well to keep the partnership intact and just as impressive was how quickly he got his mount back on an even keel. Indeed Sargent Lightfoot was never forced to relinquish his place towards the head of the field and at the other end of this near two-and-a-half-mile contest he picked off the front-running favourite Mighty Meggsie after the last to score by a length and three-quarters.

“We were hoping he’d finish in the first three or four but thought it would be a big step for him to win first time over fences as there were a couple of nice horses in it that had form,” remarked the trainer whose charge carries the colours of Martin McLouglin. “Denis was brilliant on him and that’s twice he’s won on him now.”

First success

It was a significant evening in the career of another rider as 7lbs claimer Adam Ellis recorded his first success in the saddle when Ballyglass Beauty (12/1) pounced late in the 80-95 rated Celebrating The Life Of Sean Daly Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Liam Cusack’s charge ran with credit over the minimum trip here last month and relished the step up to three miles as he collared the pace-setting Menindee at the final flight before going on to carry the day by a length and a quarter. The six-year-old is owned by the Bennetts Bar Syndicate.

“I’m delighted for Adam. He’s a very good young lad. He’s been with me since he was in school and he came to me on holidays and on Saturdays. He’s with me full time now and he’s a lovely rider so it’s great that he got his first winner,” stated Cusack who could aim his charge at Listowel.

THE card got off to a fitting start as So Scottish (6/4), who was leased for the day by Paul Byrne to brothers Alan and Conor Hughes, won the Sean Hughes Memorial Maiden Hurdle which commemorated the owners’ late father who passed away 19 years ago.

So Scottish won with authority under Donagh Meyler as he took control after the second last and dished out a nine-length beating to Pats Choice. The five-year-old son of Martaline was atoning for an odds-on defeat in a Tramore maiden hurdle last month.

“We had him entered in one or two rated beginners’ chases and if he’s still in the right bracket we might go for that, he’s a brilliant jumper,” commented Emmet Mullins.

The latter also supplied the odds-on Carrarea in the Pat Doyle Memorial Maiden Hurdle and that one moved to the front before the last flight but was upstaged in the final yards by Country Queen (9/2) and Davy Russell.

In a race run at a strong gallop the winner was well back initially but began a forward move from three out and a typically masterful Russell produced her to strike the front as the line loomed to edge out the 122-rated market leader by a neck.

Gordon Elliott trains the daughter of Yeats for the Keep Smiling Syndicate and the five-year-old was adding this race to her victory in a Bellewstown bumper two months ago.

Innisfree Beauty (18/5) ended her career in a blaze of glory as she landed the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle for Ciaran Murphy and Jack Foley. The Gabriel O’Gara and Sean O’Brien-owned half-sister to Galvin won at Sligo in July and bounced back from a few indifferent efforts to see off Lariat by just under two lengths. The six-year-old is in foal to Crystal Ocean.

Il Courra right at home in Kilbeggan

THE capable Il Courra took his tally at this track to two wins and a pair of top four placings from just four starts as he captured the Kilsaran Handicap Chase for Cormac Farrell and Paddy O’Hanlon.

The Mary Griffin-owned and bred seven-year-old was 6lbs better off with Arrycan for an eight-length beating here last month and readily reversed that form. He got on top after the final fence to defeat his aforementioned opponent by three lengths.

“I expected that, he worked with a couple of nice flat horses six days ago and I was very impressed,” remarked the trainer. “It’s nice for the Griffins, who are fantastic owners and such easy people to train for, and everyone in the yard, who work so hard.

“The horse loves it here, it keeps him interested going up and down and around. As soon as the ground is gone we’ll give him a break and aim for the spring.”

As well as getting among the winners at Down Royal, Matthew Smith also secured the bumper here as Moonovercloon, in the colours of his breeder Sean Gillen, obliged under the trainer’s son James.

The 11/2 chance came here off good runs at the Galway Festival and at Downpatrick and was a more than deserving winner.

He raced on the pace throughout and then kept on well to defeat Court Cian by two and a half lengths. When he switches back to hurdles, the winner shouldn’t have any trouble making his mark in that sphere.

The successful jockey was notching up his second victory in the saddle.