THINGS are busy at Cullentra House right now with the National Hunt action cranking up a level. Gordon Elliott’s attendance at Galway on Wednesday then, could have been viewed as significant, and a treble moved the powerhouse Co Meath operation on to the 60-winner mark for the season.

Gigginstown House Stud and Jack Kennedy shared in a couple of these successes, highlighted by Milan Native’s win in the Ryans Cleaning, Disinfecting, Waste Disposal And Recycling Chase.

Two non-runners left a field of three here. The 11/10 victor got nothing easy, just prevailing by a short head from Discorama.

On his first start since winning the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir at Cheltenham in March, Milan Native triumphed from the front. He impeded the runner-up at the finish, and had to survive a stewards’ enquiry.

A new graded intermediate chase at Navan next month is a possibility for Milan Native now.

Gigginstown, Kennedy and Elliott started the day on the right note with Ragnar Lodbrok (15/8 favourite) in the Claddagh Maiden Hurdle.

The Fame And Glory gelding was promising last term with third and fourth placings in bumpers, and he graduated to hurdles nicely, by four and a quarter lengths from Elizabeth J.

“His jumping had been novicey at home but he jumped better there,” said Elliott. “He’s having a good blow and he’ll come on plenty from it.”

Reynolds winner

The other leg of the 16/1 hat-trick was achieved in the Bet 10 Get 20 With MansionBet Handicap Hurdle courtesy of the Philip Reynolds-owned and Davy Russell-ridden Paranoid (15/8 favourite).

A stable switcher from the Pat Kelly outfit, Elliott was just happy to get a win into the Mahler six-year-old, off the mark at the 13th time of asking.

It wasn’t the plan to make the pace but finding his mount to be “a little bit buzzy,” Russell employed those tactics and got home by a neck and a head from Room To Roam and Millen To One.

J.J. SLEVIN followed a double at Killarney on Monday with another brace.

The Caim, Co Wexford rider has been getting the odd winner away from his main employer, Joseph O’Brien, and he did likewise here.

For local handler, Barry Murphy, Slevin made his first ride on Pakens Rock a winning one, in the MansionBet Watch And Bet Beginners Chase.

Pakens Rock has won three now at Galway, and this time, on his third outing over the larger obstacles, the well-supported 100/30 second favourite asserted in the straight to slam market-leader Thatsy by 10 lengths.

“He loves this place and I’m just delighted for Ray (Healy, owner). I’d imagine it’ll be the novice route for him now,” commented Murphy.

Muscle through

Slevin’s 21/1 double was initiated for his boss, Joseph O’Brien, on the Blackrock Racing Syndicate’s Arthurian Fame (4/1) in the Faber Audiovisuals Rated Novice Hurdle.

On a day where O’Brien was on the mark at Navan as well with Memyselfandmoi, Arthurian Fame had to, in the words of his jockey, “muscle his way through,” to defeat Behind The Curtain and Railway Hurricane by a length and a quarter and the same.

Slevin was adjudged by the stewards to have ridden improperly and he got a three-day suspension.

Confident Walsh steers home Fair Minded

DES McDonogh removed himself from the dreaded ‘cold list’ as Fair Minded (8/1), under a patient and confident Mark Walsh, comfortably shed her maiden tag in the Galway Handicap Hurdle.

The first four across the line here were mares, led home by J. P. McManus’ six-year-old, a homebred by the owner’s wife, Noreen, as she beat Feyan by two and a half lengths.

Being ridden from off the pace seemed to suit Fair Minded well, and she can surely build on this breakthrough, which came on her 10th outing.

Exciting finish

In the most valuable event of the session, the Guinness Handicap Chase, little over a length and a half separated the first three, after what was an exciting conclusion.

The Fiveohclock Syndicate’s Scheu Time (11/1) got there close home, to edge out in-form mare Bridge Native by a head.

James Nash trains Scheu Time and he said: “That’s great for Gavin (Brouder, winning rider) as he got a terrible fall here at the festival.

“This fella didn’t jump well early, and then I thought he was going to win going to two out and he missed that too.

“Anyway, that trip around here seems to suit him and he has plenty of options now.

“There’s a graded handicap at Cork in a fortnight’s time worth 40 grand that he could go for.”

Conor Orr, rider of Bridge Native, got a six-day ban for excessive use of the whip. The Donegal jockey will also have to attend RACE for one day of tuition on the correct use of the whip.

Impressive Glory

Late lamented sire Fame And Glory topped and tailed the card, being responsible for first winner, Ragnar Lodbrok, and impressive bumper scorer Teuchters Glory (16/1 into 12/1).

In this Galway INH Flat Race, Teuchters Glory made a winning debut in the hands of Tom Feeney, for owner William MacDonald and trainer Liam Burke.

The four-year-old came from the back, making good headway on the outer approaching the straight. Leading early in the final furlong, and pushed out to assert in the closing stages, the promising type accounted for Shakespeare’s Word by two and a quarter lengths.

Burke, also on lead-up duty, remarked: “He’s a fair beast — the type I’ve been waiting a few years now to get.”