AS expected the Listed Pat Walsh Memorial Irish EBF Mares Hurdle went entirely to script as the 8/11 favourite Buildmeupbuttercup notched up a second black type victory in just over two months.
Just as she did when winning another listed event at Killarney in August the Willie Mullins-trained mare appeared to face a straight-forward task.
Nothing in the race could boast anything like the form she showed when running with great credit in the County and Galway Hurdles while she again appeared to run right up to her best with a fifth in the Petingo Handicap on Irish Champions Weekend a few weeks ago.
The John Turner-owned 8/11 favourite eased into the lead for Paul Townend before the second last and soon held a clear lead. Rhythm Divine did close down the winner after the last but never looked likely to get on terms although she emerged with plenty of credit to get to within half a length at the line.
“I was in front soon enough but she just came alive with me coming down the hill and she was entitled to do that. It’s good she’s won another and my only concern coming to the last was the loose horse,” was Townend’s succinct summation of this victory.
There was further cheer for the champion trainer when Purple Mountain (9/4), ridden by his son Patrick, followed up her Killarney success in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mucklemeg Mares Flat Race. This Annette Mee-owned daughter of Beat Hollow travelled powerfully through the race and asserted in likeable fashion over the last quarter of a mile to finish just under four lengths clear of Sheer Liss.
“She’s not the easiest at home so Jason Deer and Cathy O’Farrell deserve a lot of credit for the work they put into her,” commented the rider. “She might be one for the good mares bumper at Navan next month and I’m sure the Mees would like her for Galway next year.”
After Rhythm Divine’s brave effort in the feature Tom Gibney went one place better with Hannon who made a winning debut for the trainer in the Download The BoyleSports App Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.
This Derek Kierans-owned gelding was good enough to be placed at Grade 2 level as a novice hurdler in 2019 and had offered some encouragement when fourth to Barrington Court on the flat at Bellewstown last time. On this occasion the 16/1 chance (who was as big at 40/1 in the morning) made all the running under James O’Sullivan and he finished with three lengths to spare over Bread And Butter.
“I’d say the ground (good) came right for him. He hadn’t been running that well but he’s worked well since coming to us and I’m delighted he’s won for his owner Derek Kierans who has been a great supporter over the last five years,” declared Gibney.
JUST over a week after providing Mark O’Hare with the final success of his career Jesse Evans turned out fresh and well to record another smooth win in the Joe Bollard Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
The 11/10 favourite appeared to do everything at his leisure under Sean Flanagan and he eased away from Wojood before the last to record an easy eight-length triumph.
“He only lost three kilos after Listowel and put the weight back on so quick and came out of the race so well I said we’d take a chance and run him,” remarked Noel Meade who trains the son of So You Think for Jack Singleton.
“We’ll give him a little break now and I’m not sure how he will handle winter ground although Sean said that ground was quick enough for him.”
Meanwhile Sean O’Keeffe, who has been enjoying a fine season, made it 21 winners for the campaign on the Jimmy Mangan-trained Capture The Action (6/1) in the Racing TV-sponsored 80-95 rated handicap hurdle over two miles. The 21-race maiden came here looking to build on a second at Cork two months previously and duly did so to defeat Molly Kaye by two lengths. The daughter of Gold Well is owned by Eileen Hodnett.
GORDON Elliott’s good form continued into this fixture where he sent out One Down (6/5) to take the first division of the Racing TV-sponsored maiden hurdle over two miles.
On his first run since March this Gigginstown House Stud-owned Tramore bumper winner turned in a satisfactory round of jumping from the front but he did begin to tire on the run-in and the staying-on Still Standing had closed to within a neck at the line.
“He’s a grand horse who handles most types of ground. He was just idling a bit in front and probably getting a bit tired as well so he’ll come on for this although I’m not sure if he’d be one for graded races,” stated the trainer.
Elliott and Kennedy suffered a reversal in the other divide of the maiden hurdle as the odds-on Tullybeg exited at the first after which Tirmizi tore into a commanding advantage. The latter began to wilt turning in though and he was picked off by the smart looking Peter Fahey-trained Visionarian (11/4) with two to jump.
Denis O’Regan could then afford to sit motionless on the Basil Holian-owned gelding who sauntered to a 13-length success to add this race to his victorious point-to-point debut last November.
There was further woe for odds-on punters in the 80-102 rated Race Displays Handicap Hurdle where Presenting Dylan failed to fire as he looked to follow up Monday’s win at Roscommon while victory went to David Dunne’s 33/1 chance Important Message.
A winner at Bellewstown in the summer, the Dowen Da Towen Syndicate-owned gelding looked held by Resurrected Duke for much of the straight but he rallied splendidly to get back on top on the run-in and prevail by three parts of a length.