THE useful Supreme Jet signalled that he could be a horse to follow over the coming months as he notched up his second success over timber in the winners’ hurdle over just short of two and a quarter miles.

The opening contest on the final card of the year at Sligo also looked the best race of the day as it attracted some useful types headed by Tax For Max and Bois De Clamart. However, nothing could match the Oliver McKiernan-trained winner who lined up off a decent third to The Very Man in a flat maiden at Thurles earlier in the month.

Richie Condon dictated a pace to suit himself on the winner and Supreme Jet rallied very well after blundering at the final flight to defeat Typical Thomas by just under three lengths. In a race run at a steady enough pace Tax For Max was beaten a further length and a quarter into third after racing quite keenly.

“I got a great spin off him. He jumped from hurdle to hurdle and travelled well and he picked up well from a mistake at the last,” remarked the winning rider. “I was able to dictate and get breathers into him when I wanted and it’s great to get a winner for Mr McKiernan who has been very good to me all summer”.

Great battle

A tremendous tussle was in store in the John Thomas McNamara Series Q.R. Maiden Hurdle where the Brian Lawless-ridden Carrig Rock justified odds on favouritism at the expense of Ginnets Girl and Harry Swan. The pair had a great battle over the final half mile which featured immaculate jumps by both at the final two flights. Even early on the run in the outcome hung in the balance before the Peter Croke inmate bettered his three years younger rival to score by two and a half lengths. Owned and bred by Maurice Sheehy, the seven-year-old Carrig Rock deserved to get his turn having amassed six top four finishes from seven previous starts over hurdles dating back to January 2021.

THE year at Sligo drew to a close with a hugely impressive effort from Fun Fun Fun in the two and a quarter miles bumper. Trained by Willie Mullins and owned, ridden and bred by his son Patrick, the four-year-old daughter of Martaline couldn’t have made a better start to her career. She cruised to the head of the field before the straight and was hard held at all stages of the straight to score by 10 lengths from Tomas O Maille.

Fun Fun Fun (1/2) is out of an own-sister to the formerly top class Mullins inmate Yorkhill and looks as though she will have no trouble holding her own in smart company in due course.

Toiling field

Boghlone Honey was produced in great shape for her first run since last December to land something of a gamble in the 80-102 rated mares’ handicap hurdle as she improved on her third place in the corresponding race two years ago.

The Liam Cusack-trained seven-year-old was as big as 20/1 in the morning before being returned at 6/1 and she could be called the winner some way from home. Richie Deegan moved to the head of the field at the second last on the John Murray-owned daughter of Jeremy and the pair quickly eased clear of a toiling field. Karen’s Gift did narrow the deficit in the straight but was still almost five lengths adrift at the line.

“She had a problem with ulcers last year and it took us a while to get her right. I knew she was in good nick and if she hadn’t run well today, we would have been scratching our heads,” remarked the trainer. “John Murray has a few horses with me and that’s his first winner so I’m delighted for him. This mare is a chaser for down the road but we’ll go for another one of these next.”

There was a result of an altogether more unpredictable variety in the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle over two and a half miles where True Destiny sprang a 40/1 surprise for James Lambe and Brian Hayes.

A useful six-time flat winner in Britain, True Destiny had struggled for form in 11 previous starts in Ireland but it was all change here. He swept to the head of the field after the second last and quickly moved to defeat Hard Rain by five and a half lengths.

Philip Byrnes lands a double

IT was a day to savour for jockey Philip Byrnes who enjoyed a double which began when Suain Na Draiocht, trained by the jockey’s father Charles, bagged the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle over just short of three and a quarter miles.

After threatening to win a bumper in the spring and showing up well to take fourth in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last week the five-year-old son of Mahler was returned a strongly supported 5/4 favourite to score over this marathon trip.

He duly obliged as he reached the line with two and three quarter lengths to spare over the 100-rated Hardwired and he is now likely to move into handicap company.

Philip Byrnes then followed up on the Noel Kelly-trained Gaius (4/1) who shrugged aside a 5lb rise for scoring at Punchestown last week by taking the 80-109 rated Callan Tansey Solicitors Handicap Hurdle over an extended three miles.

The six-year-old moved clear of the field on the run to the last and could afford to be eased down on the run-in with the result that Alfieri closed to within three-parts of a length at the line.