MICA Malpic won for the first time since last September when landing the featured Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware Mullingar Handicap Chase for Enda Bolger and owner J.P. McManus.

The 3/1 chance led after the last before quickening clear for an easy seven-length success. The winning trainer reported: “He showed a bit of foot there off the bend and jumped the last well.

“I really don’t know where we are going to go from here. He won the three miles amateur race last year in Listowel. That (two miles, three furlongs) seemed to be ideal today and the horses are running well which is the main thing. Hopefully we can keep it going.”

Impressive

Charlies Pride ran out a very impressive four-and-three quarter lengths winner of division l of the Mahon Hospitality Group New York Handicap Hurdle.

Owned and bred by Charlie Finnegan, the four-year-old was returned at 13/2. Trainer Paul Power said: “He’s a real raw four-year-old and it took him a while to figure it out in Cork but today it all clicked. He’s quite tall and backward.

“I’m delighted to get that into him as a four-year-old and looking forward to him jumping a fence. He’s entered at Tramore but it might come a bit soon as I said he’s only four.”

Mullins in maiden

Aime Desjy (2/9 favourite) got favourite backers off to a winning start when easily landing the opening Racing Again Summer Evening August 25th Maiden Hurdle. The Roaringwater Syndicate owned eight-year-old led at the third last before going on to score by five lengths.

Paul Townend said of the Willie Mullins trained victor: “He jumped well on the whole apart from the third last. We went a good even gallop which was important for a big animal around here.

“He’d the benefit of a couple of runs in better races over the winter and settled better today. I’d say he’ll jump a fence in time as well.”

Menindee amends in Darragh double

DARRAGH O’Keeffe recorded the first leg of a double when guiding Globetrottersivola to a half-length win in division 2 of the Mahon Hospitality Group New York Handicap Hurdle.

Carrying the colours of Oliver Barden, the 5/1 shot kept on strongly to lead close home.

Trainer Philip Rothwell reported: “I was hoping to have him for this race as Oliver (Barden, owner) and John (Mahon, sponsor) are very good friends and we won this race before with Berliet Express.

“My staff have worked tirelessly with this horse for the last three or four days. He had a little drop in a foot and my farrier has put in huge work. Many thanks to them all and it’s paid off. He always travels well and doesn’t find a huge amount.

“He’d a very good run in Cork and if we hadn’t missed a day or two earlier in the week, we’d have been a little bit more confident. He might run again at Tramore on Sunday week.”

Favouritism

O’Keeffe completed his brace when Menindee justified 10/3 favouritism in the Kieran Kelly Memorial Handicap Chase.

An unlucky loser when falling at the last on her previous run over fences, the mare won tidily by a length and a quarter in the colours of owner/breeder David Kells.

Trainer David Christie said: “She’s stronger this year. These homebred horses often take time to come to themselves. We’ve been patient with her.

“Last week the way the ground was at the end (of Galway), Darragh said she felt a bit dead as if she was coming out of season.

“She wasn’t herself at all and didn’t take a cut at her fences. She seemed good through the week and we said we’d have a go.”

Mo makes all

Mighty Mo Missouri made all the running to take the Follow Kilbeggan Races On Facebook Maiden Hurdle for Jessica Harrington.

Locally-owned by the Mount Temple Three Syndicate, the 5/2 chance kept on strongly to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

Conor Smithers, riding his third career winner, said: “He’s a horse that will always be doing the bare minimum. He won’t have a burst of speed and you need to set a good gallop.

“When he gets his way up front he’ll stay going all day. He’s been a good servant to me and brought me to Cheltenham as well which was an amazing experience. Horses came around him over there and he kind of threw in the towel.”

Macgiloney the master in surprise win

DENIS Hogan’s Macgiloney upset better fancied rivals when causing a 12/1 surprise in the Joe Cooney Memorial Hurdle.

The Michael Moloney-owned gelding had five lengths to spare at the line. Hogan said: “He’s a 10-year-old now and that’s 11 races that he’s won. He’s been a bit in and out this year but would have won here two runs ago when he stumbled at the last so he deserved that.

“Looking at the race, he was meeting them all wrong at the weights but they are all old horses and have two ways of running at this stage so we said we’d take our chance.

“Hopefully the handicapper won’t react too harshly. Extreme trips suit him and if we could get three and a half miles that would be great. Daniel (King) gave him a lovely ride.”

Sage Conseil won the concluding Follow Kilbeggan Racecourse On Instagram INH Flat Race for Alex Harvey and John McConnell. The 9/1 chance led over a furlong out before going on to record a three-and-three-quarter length success.

McConnell reported: “It wasn’t unexpected. He’d been working with horses that ran well in bumpers the last couple of weeks.

“He had a racecourse gallop in Navan about a month ago but he’s a light-framed horse that doesn’t take much training so we freshened him up. I’m delighted for my sister (Debbie, owner) as she has been very patient. “It’s nearly two years since we bought him but he’s needed all that time. He’s a fun horse that should pay his way. He’d have no problem jumping a hurdle, I’d say he’d be very slick over them.”