JOHN Ryan’s two-strong assault on the featured Grade B BoyleSports Handicap Chase paid maximum dividends yesterday as The Dara Man and Danny Mullins led home stablemate Ferdia in the €45,000 extended two-mile feature which brought down the curtain on the July Festival.

As he went in search of his second win over fences, the Declan Donohoe-owned The Dara Man lined up off joint bottom weight and he took a marked step forward on his recent efforts.

The Dara Man raced on the pace in company with Ferdia and Defan from the outset and, as the field turned for home to face the last three fences, the Ryan-trained duo left Defan toiling in their wake.

From two out, the Ryan runners had the race to themselves and The Dara Man (7/2) finished out strongly to defeat Ferdia (5/2 favourite) by nine lengths with Espion Du Chenet having to settle for third, a further 11 lengths back.

“They are two lovely horses. The Dara Man has disappointed me a little but the better ground brought the best out in him today and we saw the real The Dara Man. He’s a classy horse,” said Ryan.

“It’s a pity for Ferdia but The Dara Man is just a bit further down the road than he is as he’s a year older. Both horses will head to Galway.”

Good week

Magnor Glory capped a good week for trainer Terence O’Brien who added to a success on the flat at Dundalk on Tuesday by sending out this six-year-old to take the Dawn Milk Run Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.

A winner of a Ballinrobe handicap on his penultimate start, the 11/2 co-favourite was returning from two months off the track but turned out better than ever.

The complexion of this race changed a few times in the straight with Summer Tide and Kells Priory looking possible winners at various stages but Shane Fitzgerald produced Magnor Glory with a well-timed effort to take charge on the run-in before getting home by a neck Kells Priory.

The winner carries the colours of Joe Sheahen and the late Barry Walsh and was scoring off a stone higher mark than when successful at Ballinrobe.

“He can be hard on himself so we try to keep a lid on him and he’s improving away all the time. I was wondering was he ready enough today but he was obviously fairly straight,” stated the trainer.

“He’ll go to Galway now and I’d say he’ll run in the valuable two-mile handicap hurdle on the Friday evening.”

AFTER sending out a couple of second-place finishers here on Thursday evening, Gordon Elliott bagged the opening Europe Hotel & Resort 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle with The Insider who was returned a well-supported 100/30 chance.

The Elliott-trained Chargo came down three out having raced freely in the lead and at the point of her departure it seemed likely that both the Jordan Gainford-ridden The Insider and Figaruso were poised to move past.

When the last-named pair were left doing battle the outcome hung in the balance until after the last where a peck on landing by Figaruso proved costly. This left the Kenny Haughey-owned The Insider to make a winning debut for Elliott.

“He travelled into it well, Jordan said they went quick and he felt he got there nearly travelling too well. He was bought to go to America in the autumn and the plan is for him to go there. He could have another run or two before then. Jack (Kennedy) said Chargo was much too keen,” stated Elliott.

LITTLE Big Rocky looks a horse to keep on the right side of over the coming weeks as he ran out a smooth winner of the extended two-mile Dawn Milk Hi+Lo Handicap Hurdle for Pat Downey. The well-backed 15/2 shot was handed a mark of 97 for his handicap debut having previously shown ability to take second in a Fairyhouse bumper in February 2021.

Conor McNamara made most of the running on the Lane Syndicate-owned seven-year-old and the pair shook off the challenge of the recent Wexford winner Our Bobby after two out en route to a decidedly easy two-and-a-quarter-length success.

“We’ve been looking forward to this horse all year and I can’t wait until he goes chasing and that could be sooner rather than later,” remarked Downey whose charge sports the same silks as the Cheltenham winner Xenophon.

Positive

The booking of Jack Kennedy for the Paul Power-trained Shannon Glory in the Dawn Milk Omega Mares Maiden Hurdle looked a notable positive for her chances and the 100/30 joint favourite duly delivered.

The Sean Begley-owned mare looked a likely winner from some way out in this extended two-and-three-quarter-mile affair and she posted a commanding 12-length triumph over Queshi Bridge.

“She was unlucky here in May and everything went wrong the last day but she won well today and I’m delighted with her,” remarked Power.

“She’s been in all winter so we might have a go at a winners’ race somewhere like Listowel.”

After individual victories earlier in the day Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy combined to take the Rentokil Initial Novice Chase with Ash Tree Meadow. A couple of recent wins at Perth saw this Alymer Stud-owned six-year-old returned at 8/13 and he produced a fluent display from the front to defeat The Little Yank by an easy six lengths. The graded novice chase programme in the autumn is likely to feature on the agenda.

The meeting ended with a winner for Willie and Patrick Mullins as Saylavee landed the Christy Lucey Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race. An easy Clonmel winner a couple of months ago, the 8/13 shot carried her penalty with aplomb. For much of the straight the Lynne Maclennan-owned daughter of Shantou looked to have all covered. but she came under strong pressure late on to deal with the effort of promising newcomer Champagne Fame.