AIMING to complete what would be a famous August Festival double, Rotten Row comfortably passed his initial assignment in the opening Three Ireland Rated Novice Chase.

Trained by Tony Mullins and ridden by his son Danny, the Leading Light six-year-old was sent off an easy-to-back 8/1 chance in the colours of Waterford native Roddy O’Byrne.

With Bonarc setting a strong pace up front, the bay victor was given a patient ride, making smooth progress to challenge 13/8 favourite Itwasfate on the approach to the second last.

Pushed to the front before the final fence, he quickly got the better of the market leader and stretched clear on the run-in for a six-and-a-half-length victory.

“Danny said at halfway he was happy with everything and thought with the gallop they went, they were going to come back to him,” Mullins commented.

“He has a little cut on his hind leg but if it’s okay he will run again on Sunday. His owner sponsors the big race (McCarthys Irish Bar Lexington Handicap Chase) and it would be a dream if he could win his own race.”

Battled back

There was further local success in the StoreAll Logistics Handicap Hurdle, with Mr Social (9/2) landing the spoils for Slieverue trainer Eoin Griffin.

Owned by Mark McDonagh and ridden by his son and namesake, the Getaway gelding was towards rear in the early stages, making gradual progress to lead from the sixth.

Strongly pressed and joined from two out, he battled back gamely to regain the lead on the approach to the last, keeping on well from there to beat Hard Target (7/2 favourite) by two and a half lengths.

“My brother-in-law, John Paul Kelly, is the managing director of StoreAll Logistics, so it’s nice to get a few bob off of him,” Griffin quipped.

“There is an 80 to 95 at Killarney next week and he could go for that.”

DESPITE carrying top-weight, the ultra-consistent Royal Eagle (2/1 favourite) comfortably brushed aside her rivals in the feature Tramore Directors Handicap Hurdle.

The first part of a double for Gordon Elliott, the five-year-old was settled behind the leaders by Jack Kennedy, travelling strongly and getting to the front before two out.

Pushed along before the final flight, she soon stretched clear and came home three lengths to the good in the colours of David Monaghan, Adam Lord and Paddy Monaghan.

“She is a lovely consistent mare and done it very well,” Kennedy enthused.“Hopefully she will be able to come back again on Saturday (declared for a mile and four flat handicap). She won here last year as well, so obviously she likes it around here.”

Final flight

Elliott quickly doubled his tally with Foxfire Glow in the Ergo Rated Novice Hurdle, with this one also the market leader.

Returned a 6/4 chance, the Vadamos five-year-old was settled behind the leaders by Mark Walsh, improving to the front after three out. Pressed by Bynx from the next, he was ridden on the approach to the final flight and kept on best for pressure in the closing stages, getting the better of his aforementioned rival by a length and a quarter.

Winning owner J.P. McManus was represented by his racing manager Frank Berry, who commented: “It took him a while to win. He had been disappointing, and we got his wind done.

“He is going the right way and I’d say he’ll have no problem getting a bit further. Listowel will probably be on the agenda for him now.”

Debut over flights

Favourite backers had to settle for second in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Maiden Hurdle, with Rockview Consort (5/1) coming home a half-length to the good on what was her debut over flights.

In truth, very few got involved in this two-mile affair, with the 11/10 favourite (from 4/6) Born In Purple attempting to make all under Paul Townend.

With the front runner always in her sights, the John McConnell-trained victor jumped the last in a share of the lead and ultimately kept on best in the closing stages, scoring in the colours of Rockview Stables.

“I had done plenty of schooling on her and John does a lot of schooling with his horses to make sure they jump well first time out,” winning rider Ben Harvey divulged. “I think she is a real nice filly and has a future over hurdles.”

EARLIER successful with Foxfire Glow, the colours of J.P. McManus were again carried to victory in the concluding Coast To Curragh August 26th Charity Cycle (Ladies) Maiden.

Maxine O’Sullivan donned the famous silks aboard recent Galway Hurdle fifth Filey Bay, who is trained by her partner Emmet Mullins.

Given a confident ride, the well-supported 8/15 chance (from 13/8) came from off the pace and swept to the front inside the final 100 yards, going on to score by a convincing three lengths.

“He has had a tough campaign but it’s great to see the enthusiasm still in him coming up the hill here,” Mullins reflected.

“It’s Maxine’s first winner on the track for me. I told her to go out and ride him with loads of confidence and she surely did, she executed it beautifully.”

Willywampus (9/1) had an even easier time of it in the O’Neill’s Bar Beginners Chase, coming home a clearcut winner after making virtually all under Paddy O’Hanlon.

In a definite lead after the second, he was left clear when nearest pursuer Will You Win parted company with Phillip Enright at the fifth. While his advantage was briefly reduced with just under a circuit to race, the Eamon Courtney-trained chesnut went on again from three out and came home 16-lengths to the good.

Courtney, who is a Killarney hotelier, said: “I’m delighted because my wife Valerie (winning owner) is from Co Kilkenny originally and this would be her home track.

“He is a very honest horse and we bought him from Donal Commins, who had done a great job with him, so credit must go to Donal.

“I took out the full licence this year and it’s my first winner with it.”