IRELAND’S busiest jump jockey, Darragh O’Keeffe, registered a second career treble at Killarney last Sunday, combining with trainers Henry de Bromhead and Michael Hourigan, (twice), for winners on Toss Again, Winning Rascal and Sanibel Island.

O’Keeffe, with 628 rides last season and 272 already this term, began by winning the Tote SP Or Better Guaranteed Rated Novice Hurdle on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Toss Again (11/10 favourite), for owners Envirogreen Housing Services Ltd.

The five-year-old son of Malinas made all and stayed well for an eight-and-a-half-length win over Alvaro. O’Keeffe said: “He was very good and he is a lovely, big horse. Chasing will be his game.

“He won his maiden hurdle and had a good run here the last day, when finishing second to an improving sort in Rexem. With Martin Brassil’s horse (Desertmore House) out, he looked the one to beat and is very straightforward.

“I jumped out, he had his ears pricked and is a pleasure to ride.

Spoiled

“He kept lengthening up the straight, which I liked about him, and you’re spoiled riding for Henry as they are very good rides and are very good to jump.

“For a big horse, he is very good getting in tight and is still able to shorten himself.”

Thirty five minutes later he doubled his score on the Michael Hourigan-trained, Denis Reddan-owned Winning Rascal (100/30 favourite) in the Play The Tote Exacta Handicap Hurdle.

The winning trainer later said: “He had to be tough and was tough. The last jump helped him a lot as he flew it and the other horse fluffed it.

“He might have a break now as I don’t think he wants soft ground and was feeling the pinch a little today. You’d imagine he is well handicapped over fences rated 87.”

First win

O’Keeffe and Hourigan completed their haul with Sanibel Island (5/1) in the Tote.ie Never Beaten By SP Handicap Chase, as the 10-year-old benefitted from the final fence fall of narrow leader Zalika, when notching a first win since March 2017.

Hourigan said: “Tom (Doran, previous owner) was finished with the horse and gave him to me. He was rated 127 at one stage and I thought if I couldn’t turn him around I’d retire!

“He is only rated 70 and should have won at Sligo but wouldn’t put his head out. He’s not a bad horse and is a winter horse.”

DARRAGH O’Keeffe had partnered the runner-up in both the opening races and was beaten just a head on Downthecellar by winner Buttons And Bows in the Vincent Casey Life & Pensions Handicap Hurdle.

Carrying the colours of J.P. McManus, the Pat Flynn-trained, Simon Torrens-partnered mare was prominent throughout and eventually led close home, for a fourth career success.

Torrens later commented: “I needed every yard of the straight and it was a hotter race in Listowel where she ran very well and did her best work at the end.

The drop back into a weaker race with a longer straight suited her.”

Racing began with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Mares) Maiden Hurdle, which was won by the Joseph O’Brien-trained French import Bella Scintilla, for Burnham Plastering & Dry Lining Limited and jockey J.J. Slevin.

Despite jumping right at the final two flights, the 4/5 favourite had enough in reserve to beat Still Ciel by three and a quarter lengths, with 46 lengths to third-placed Glorious Singer.

Very professional

Slevin, who won last month’s Kerry National, said “She was good although and while she jumped out to her right over the last couple, other than that was very professional.

“She ran to quite a high level in France and it is great to have her as a maiden as having her novice status is important. I think she ran to a mark of 137 in France so that is decent and the hope will be to get blacktype.

“The ground is on the slow side of good and she wouldn’t mind some more juice in it.”

Ricky keeps up Rothwell form

CIAN Quirke registered a first winner for trainer Philip Rothwell when steering Ricky Langford (12/1) to a fourth career win in the Tote Handicap Chase.

Jack Holiday held a narrow lead when falling at the second-last, leaving Ricky Langford in front and eventually scored by five and a half lengths from Pythion

Rothwell, who had a double at Gowran on Friday, wasn’t present and Quirke said: “That’s my first winner for Philip who has been good to me and given me plenty rides this season. His horses are flying it and are in top shape.

“He had a good run in Wexford two runs ago and Philip thought if he was in good form would have a good chance today.

“He jumped away brilliantly everywhere, we knew there’d be plenty pace and while I was hoping I’d have something to bring me to the last, but unfortunately Jack Holiday fell and he was left in front a bit soon. He is a good honest horse though and got the job done.”

Off the mark

Final Orders (evens favourite) got off the mark at the second attempt over fences when easily landing the Tote Guarantee Beginners Chase for jockey Keith Donoghue, trainer Gavin Cromwell and the C M D Syndicate.

The Camelot-sired six-year-old made virtually all and held a commanding advantage throughout the final half mile, winning eased down from King Ferdinand. Donoghue said afferwards: “He is a very good jumper, probably improved a little bit over fences and had a nice run over two miles, one furlong the last day so we were confident going up in trip today.

“He was well in today as he was rated 102 over hurdles, is very consistent and couldn’t have done it much easier. He is no star but always runs his race and you wouldn’t mind a few more like him.”

The concluding Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap Chase was won by the Joe Walsh-owned Joeswayornoway (11/2), for trainer Eamonn ‘Dusty’ Sheehy and jockey Kieran Buckley.

Afterwards Sheedy reported: “Using different tactics helped and her experience helped

“She has been consistent over fences and we’ll look for another handicap chase. The softer the ground the better she will be.”