NOEL Meade could have a nice staying novice hurdler on his hands in Idas Boy who produced a display in keeping with his position as the 8/11 favourite in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle over just short of three miles.

On his first outing for almost a year, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned seven-year-old was making just the fourth appearance of his career. He did make a few mistakes over the course of this race but this race was as good as ever when he began to ease clear of the field from the third last. Bryan Cooper, who was replacing the injured Sean Flanagan, never had to get animated in the straight for the market leader to finish nine and a half lengths clear of Caesar Rock.

“He stays well and he was very good at some of his hurdles but was just a bit clumsy when he got in tight. He’ll pay his way over a trip this season,” reported Cooper.

Improved Lord

The day concluded with a nice effort from Imperial Lord in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Flat Race. Yvonne Latta’s charge showed promise on his racecourse debut in another auction bumper at Fairyhouse last month and evidently an improved effort was expected as he was sent off a well-supported 9/2 chance.

A €4,500 store purchase, this son of Imperial Monarch led before the turn in and throughout the last quarter of a mile he looked to be holding Keepthefaithinme who went down by three and a half lengths. This was a likeable effort from the winner who looks like one that could progress further from here.

Coffey’s charge is the Business; Pretty run by Little Liar

THE most dominant winner of the afternoon was the Donal Coffey-owned and trained Family Business in the mares’ maiden hurdle over two miles. This seven-year-old had shown enough in the past to suggest that a race like this could be within her reach and she turned in a career-best effort from the front under Jack Foley.

Family Business (16/5) stormed clear of her rivals in the straight to dish out a 15 lengths beating to the 103-rated Powerful Out.

Pretty winner

There was another easy winner in the beginners’ chase for horses rated 102 or less over hurdles as Pretty Little Liar (3/1) struck for David Dunne and Jordan Gainford to get her chasing career off to a bright start.

As she looked to follow up a smooth win over hurdles at Fairyhouse last month, the Pretty Boys Syndicate-owned mare was firmly in charge when she eased to the front with two to jump. She soon moved clear and had plenty to spare in defeating Shes Some Doll by three and a quarter lengths.

“The way she was jumping at home I felt she would take to fences.

“She’s ground dependent so that could be her last run of the season although I’ve said that three or four times now,” declared Dunne whose charge has won twice and finished second three times on her last five starts.

Day of firsts for Flynn and McGill; King gets golden result

IT was a landmark day for several winners on the card and former amateur rider Lenny Flynn bagged his first success as a trainer when All The Chimneys (20/1) bounced back to form in the two-and-a-quarter-mile handicap chase.

Now a nine-time winner, the 12-year-old was making just his second start for Crecora-based Flynn having been touched off in a Cork handicap hurdle last month. The Tadgh Hogan-owned gelding was left disputing the lead with Shakeytry when Defan blundered away his chance at the last where he wasn’t done any favours by a loose horse.

Victory could have gone either way on the run-in and a bobbing finish ensued but at the line Shane Fitzgerald’s mount got the verdict by a head.

The winning rider was hit with a four-day whip ban.

“I have this horse a couple of months. Tadgh has a young horse with me and said the old horse might just need a change of scenery to perk him up again,” commented Flynn.

McGill’s first

Later on the card, 22-year-old amateur Oran McGill notched up his initial success on the track, to add to several point-to-point wins, as Ellaat made it back-to-back wins at Thurles in the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle. The 9/4 favourite shrugged aside an 8lb rise for winning here last month as she took charge before the last flight to defeat Lesssaidthebetter by just under three lengths.

Derry-based Noel Kelly indicated that he would try and get another run into charge before the ground turns.

Gold result

Gold Creek shed her maiden tag after 24 previous attempts in the mares’ handicap hurdle over two and a half miles. Owned and trained by Aengus King, the 25/1 chance was ridden by Gavin Brouder, who had her disputing the lead with Misty Millie when that one crashed out at the last. This left the daughter of Gold Well to finish two and a quarter lengths ahead of Nell’s Well.

“She’s run some nice races and should have won a race at some point so we’re over the moon today. She’s only small so the light weight helped,” commented King who was considering turning out his charge again at Naas this afternoon.