RACHAEL Blackmore got off the mark for the new season at Tipperary on Thursday when steering the Henry de Bromhead-trained Easy Fella (5/4 favourite) to an impressive jumping display on chase debut in the Tipperary Races Beginners Chase.

Initially held up behind the leaders, the seven-year-old led from halfway and, with many quick leaps, extended his advantage in the final half mile to score easily by 18 lengths from Prairie Dancer.

It was de Bromhead’s second success of the new campaign and he said: “Easy Fella did what we hoped. It took a bit for him to warm up to his task, but I thought he jumped really well then. I’m delighted for the Cunninghams [winning owners] and Rachael was super on him, as ever.

“He goes on the softer ground but definitely seems to be better on nicer ground and we thought he could have a nice season chasing, so we said we’d put him away and have a go at this.

“There’s a three-mile novice at Punchestown, potentially, and there might be a bit of a gap then, but we’ll work our way along and see how we go.”

Marching to victory

Leading owners Robcour continued their old alliance with trainer James Motherway in the Porter House Handicap Chase as Time Marches On (17/2) improved on a recent Tramore disappointment.

The eight-year-old gelding today scored a two-and-three-quarters-of-a-length win over Look Dont Touch under Conor Stone-Walsh.

Motherway said: “It’s great to get that win out of him as we were very disappointed at Tramore but I feel he didn’t handle the track and never got going. I told Conor to get him out handy today and keep him on the outer to give him as much light as he could.

“He has plenty ability but keeps a little for himself so I told Conor to be as positive as he could. He is a summer horse, that’s his ideal ground and is a nice horse to have. It is great to get a winner for Robcour.”

RACING had begun with trainer Colin Motherway - no relation to James Motherway - winning the first division of the Hotel Minella Mares Maiden Hurdle with Slip Jig (12/1), the first leg of jockey Darragh O’Keeffe’s double.

The six-year-old Flemensfirth mare was absent for 684 days following her debut run in May 2022 but today was competing for the third month in succession and defeated fast-finishing Fair Damsel by a length and a quarter.

Motherway said: “I was expecting a good run and she ran a nice race at Clonmel [last month] when she finished fifth. We were delighted with that, and knew she’d improve a stone from her first run over hurdles.

“She had run a good race in a bumper first time out but just got a bit of an injury, so we had to give her time off.”

He added: “She’s the first horse for the Road To Nowhere Syndicate, so it’s great for them and they’re delighted. They’re from Cloyne and Carrigtwohill, they’re a great bunch, and will enjoy tonight.”

Cheque pays well

O’Keeffe completed his double in the second division of the same Hotel Minella-sponsored race, steering well backed Cash The Cheque (5/1 – 7/2) to score nicely for trainer Brendan Walsh.

“I’m grateful to Paddy [Melarkey] for sending her to me and he has another one with me which is running at Cork on Saturday [named Cash Chase],” said Walsh.

“Paddy is from Fermanagh and rang me up one day so it was lucky he found my number! He bought the mare and asked me would I train it.

“Darragh gave her a good ride and settled her, although the ground is a little tacky for her. She is grand, did it well, stayed [the distance] and hopefully might win a few more.”

Soldier strikes

The Ethna O’Toole-owned Grange Soldier (4/1) was a battling winner, by a length, of the Boomerang.ie Novice Hunters Chase, under Barry O’Neill for trainer Willie Murphy.

Murphy said: “He jumped great, it was a good performance and got a great ride but it was a pity for Pa King who unfortunately couldn’t be here today, as he did all the work with the horse.

“I was keen to keep somebody who knew the horse to ride him and Barry had finished second on the horse in the past so we had a good replacement. He is finished now for the summer.”

Enright dedicates victory to Byrne

JOCKEY Philip Enright dedicated his success in the Ryans Cleaning Event Specialists Handicap Hurdle, on Junior Rattler, to his late friend Michael Byrne after he had steered the Oliver McKiernan-trained gelding to victory.

The winner raced behind the leaders and led on the run-in, beating Hunting Brook by two and a half lengths.

An emotional Enright commented: “He had a couple of great runs over fences last year but was a bit disappointing at Thurles when the ground was tough. He wants nicer ground and battled it out well today so it is great.

“I lost a great friend Mick Byrne during the week so I’ll dedicate this win to him.”

Curling mare impresses

The Sam Curling-trained Jasmine D’airy was an impressive winner of the Millennium Surveys Ltd Mares Point-To-Point Bumper, scoring easily under Derek O’Connor.

The 2/1 joint-favourite made most of the running to beat Klassical Corona by six lengths.

Curling said: “She was a bit keen in her two point-to-points on soft or heavy ground but I’d say she is more of a two-mile mare. She will end up being a fairly good filly I’d say.

“Tom [Howley Jr] and Timmy Hyde own her together and if she is kept, she will go for a winners’ bumper but I’d say she will be sold.”

Mullins recruit

The geldings’ version of the same Millennium Surveys Ltd-sponsored race went to all-out short-head winner Jackstell, for trainer Emmet Mullins and owner Paul Byrne.

Norr’s Cross challenged strongly in the final furlong but failed narrowly to catch jockey John Gleeson on the 5/4 favourite.

Mullins said: “They hadn’t gone much of a gallop but John was alert to it and made sure he was bang there turning in.

“We got the rub of the green at the finish but he rallied and has a good attitude.

“I’d say he is a nice horse to keep going in staying races for the summer. I bought him at a sale and we bought Backmeorsackme the same day so that wasn’t a bad day’s shopping.”