FRESH from Grade 1 success at Aintree, Rachael Blackmore and Willie Mullins registered a double at a fog-shrouded Graun Hill, combining with Saint Sam in the Tramore Racecourse Directors Chase.

Returning the clear market leader at 2/11, the Saint Des Saints gelding proved difficult to settle, but still sauntered to a 20-length success after making all in the colours of Edward Ware.

Blackmore was a late replacement for Paul Townend, with Mullins, who was returning to the track for the first time since hip surgery, stating: “Paul is very sore after his fall from Dark Raven at Aintree and he is going to take a day or two off.”

He added: “Rachael said he just jumped from fence to fence and that he loved it. He will mix it between hurdles and fences for the next short while anyway. I really want to go over longer trips with him and teach him how to settle. We need to temper his enthusiasm a bit.”

Mullins initiated his brace with MacDermott, another son of Saint Des Saints, in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.

Supported from 9/2 to 10/3, the Michael O’Sullivan-ridden five-year-old raced in second for much of this extended two-and-a-half-mile contest. Pushed along to challenge on the approach to two out, he soon swept to the front, coming home four and three quarters of a length to the good for owners Gallagher Bloodstock Limited.

“He is improving all the time, he wants a trip and soft ground,” Mullins commented.

“He is really a chaser in the making and I might get one more run into him if the ground stays right.”

Freddie flies home

Blackmore completed her double in the concluding Lismore Handicap Chase on Freddie Robdal (15/2), a very poignant winner for the Dave Clerkin Racing Club.

On what was his handicap debut over fences, the Henry de Bromhead-trained six-year-old came from off the pace and got up in the final stride to beat the front-running Know The Game by a nose.

De Bromhead said: “He is owned by friends of Dave Clerkin, who passed away in 2018. They’ve just told me that Dave would have been 35 today. It’s a special day for them all.”

Paul Boyle, who heads the syndicate, added: “Dave was a good pal of ours and we thought it would be a good idea to get a horse after he passed away. I messaged his mother last night and said it would be great if he won today on Dave’s birthday.”

BRIDESWELL Lad recorded his second course success when running out a game winner of the feature Book A Table For The August Festival Handicap Chase.

Set to score when unseating at the last on his penultimate outing at Leopardstown, the Shirocco seven-year-old since finished fourth at Wexford. Sent off an 8/1 chance for this extended two-mile-five-furlong contest, the Seamus Neville-trained gelding raced mainly in second under J.J. Slevin, improving to lead from four out.

Pressed from the second last, he found plenty when asked for more, going on to oblige by three lengths from Priory Park (7/1 to 4/1 joint-favourite) in second.

“He is more of a summer horse and we were a little bit concerned about the [soft] ground for him,” said Neville, who trains the winner for his wife Ina.

“We will campaign him over the summer at the festivals and I’m hoping he’ll get into some of the better handicaps.”

Barcoe on target

Early Arrival was another always towards the head of affairs, as he made the breakthrough on his 24th career start in the first division of the Anne Valley Walk Handicap Hurdle.

Bred and previously trained by Liam Casey, the eight-year-old is now in the care of Jimmy Barcoe for owner Yvonne Hennessy. Sent off a 6/1 chance under Kieran Callaghan, the Rule Of Law gelding raced in second, getting to the front after three out.

He wasn’t fluent over the last two and was tackled on the run-in but pulled out more in the closing stages to see off the effort of Walk Out by half a length.

Bal Kauto was the gamble of the race, going off the 7/4 favourite from 7/1 early. Always towards the rear, he never looked like threatening and eventually finished sixth.“He didn’t jump the last two great but he was never in front before so you couldn’t blame him for that,” said the winning rider. “He picked up again once he got a bit of company after the last.”

THE Liam O’Brien-trained Mighty Jeremy easily justified 15/8 favouritism in the second division of the Anne Valley Walk Handicap Hurdle.

Having recently made the breakthrough at Clonmel, the nine-year-old followed-up in style under Ian Power, making all and jumping well throughout, coming home seven-and-a-half lengths in front.

“In fairness to Ian, he came up with the plan. He said there was not going to be much pace and that he’d make the running,” O’Brien, who trains the winner for his landlord Paddy Meany, said.

“Ian has been around the block and knows his stuff. He is a talented rider and gave him a serious ride. My wife Claire has done all the work with this horse.”

Pink prevails for Murphy

Double Pink was another to make all, as she claimed the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle, reversing Gowran form with market principals I Sea The Moon (6/4 favourite) and Silent Approach (2/1).

Despite jumping left throughout, the Donie Murphy-trained Walk In The Park mare battled on gamely when ridden on the run-in, seeing off the effort of the aforementioned Silent Approach by half a length.

Well-supported from 6/1 to 7/2, the winner was ridden by Brian Hayes for owner Claudine Corrigan.

“It was the plan to go out in front as she is very hard on herself. I think if she got a bit more racing she would learn how to settle,” Midleton-based Murphy said.

“We had her as a four-year-old and she ran once. She was then leased out to a syndicate and Willie Mullins trained her. She was second in a bumper for Willie.”