THE best was saved until last at Kilbeggan’s first meeting of the year as Lorna Fowler’s newcomer Tommy Time (8/1) left his rivals for dead in the second bumper on the card.

Graham Morrow’s homebred son of Sageburg, a half-brother to useful jumpers Rocco and Line Ball, tracked the leaders under Maxine O’Sullivan before being produced to lead on the outer two furlongs out. Despite being green in front, the five-year-old went right away to beat Brandt by 14 lengths.

“That was great, he’s a little dinger,” said Fowler. “I thought he’d handle the track and in the last couple of weeks he’s been going really well.

“He’s so genuine and honest and clearly he gelled well with Maxine. I believe he’s for sale and hopefully someone buys him and keeps him in the yard. He’s so athletic and jumps hurdles great.”

Anthony McCann saddled his fifth bumper winner of the season when Final Decision (3/1) landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race.

Always on the front end under Aine O’Connor, the Iffraaj filly, owned by the Hasson Syndicate, knuckled down well in the final furlong to see off the persistent challenge of market leader River Tara by half a length.

Rider Adam Ryan was hit with a five-day ban after mistaking the fifty yard marker for the winning post, with his eased-down mount Slim Marvel being caught for third place on the line.

McCann said of his winner: “Myself and Johnny Moore picked her up at the sales last year.

“She hung a bit up the straight today and it’s probably not a track for her as she’s a lovely big mare. There is still improvement in her and she’s tough.

“She’ll definitely go hurdling but she could also be one for those amateur races around Leopardstown during the summer.”

Rachael and Henry continue good form

FOLLOWING on from their Aintree success with Inthepocket and Dancing On My Own, Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore continued their good run of form in the run up to the Punchestown Festival when taking the Follow Kilbeggan On Facebook Handicap Hurdle with Lucky Zebo.

Jamie Lawson Maher’s six-year-old is one of the lesser lights at Knockeen but attracted support here on his handicap debut, available at 7/1 earlier in the day before being sent off 100/30 favourite.

He challenged from the penultimate flight and asserted before the last to score by a length from Mister Twist, as Blackmore kept him going with hands and heels after dropping her whip early on the run-in.

Having shown promise in bumpers, Wasthatok (3/1) made a winning start over obstacles in the first division of the maiden hurdle.

The Mount Nelson gelding was always prominent under Keith Donoghue and moved to the head of affairs on the run to the last. Untroubled from that point, he scored by six lengths from Flidais.

The Mount Nelson gelding is trained by Gavin Cromwell for his wife, Kiva.

Donoghue said: “He ran well in a few bumpers but we thought he was up to winning one and he probably disappointed us a little bit.

“He’s a big horse, about 17hh, and he probably just needed that bit of time. The bit of nicer ground suited him.

“He probably wasn’t in love with the track but the bit of nicer ground suited him.”

Twice runner-up in juvenile contests last year, the 4/7 favourite Charlie Luciano comfortably went one better in the second split of the maiden hurdle.

The son of Bobby’s Kitten tracked the leaders before hitting the front at the last and sauntered clear to beat Up And Out by six lengths.

Denis O’Regan was on board for his old ally, owner/trainer Noel Meade.

Meade said: “He wants that goodish ground and Denis said it’s still not really good enough for him. He’ll go on through the summer.

“Hopefully we’ll win a flat race with him as well. He stays two miles on the flat and will stay further over hurdles.”

In-form Gilligan scores again

DANNY Gilligan had opened his account over jumps at Tramore earlier in the week and the teenager wasted no time adding to that tally when successful aboard The Big Chap (5/1) in the Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Handicap Hurdle.

The six-year-old gelding, carrying the colours of the Glenmore Goes Racing Syndicate, was successful at Limerick last year and was reappearing after nearly nine months of a break. After being produced to lead approaching the home bend, he kept on well under pressure to foil Laser Focus by half a length.

Winning trainer Paul Flynn said: “He had his palate done and is a grand horse. He’ll be a better chaser.

“He wanted every yard of the trip and will come on for that run. Hopefully he’ll have a good summer and you’ll probably see him back here.”

Placed in three maiden hurdles after rattling up a hat-trick in the autumn point-to-point season, Desert Heather (7/1), trained by Declan Queally for owner /breeder Harry Gettings, made a mockery of her opening mark of 106 in the two-mile-seven-furlong handicap hurdle.

Having tracked the leaders under amateur Ray Barron, the daughter of Cloudings led two out and was soon ridden clear. Eased down close home, she still had nine lengths to spare over Townhill Penny.

Declan Queally junior, assistant to his father, said: “Ray is a big help with the 7lb and it’s the owner’s first winner under rules. He’s from Rathcormac in County Cork and has four horses with us.

“The handicapper will probably give her a fair belt for that and she’ll tip away over the summer.”