JACK Foley continued his dream run at Kilbeggan this year when partnering Definite Soldier to take the featured Kilmurray’s Homevalue Hardware Mullingar Handicap Chase.

The talented 7lb claimer rode a treble at the previous meeting here last month and was seen to great effect on the veteran gelding, who incidentally provided Rathdrum trainer Johnny Kinsella with his first winner under rules when also scoring over this course and distance back in May.

The Oliver Mythen-owned 12-year-old beat Ask Nile by half a length on his last visit to the Westmeath track, and it was that same rival who gave him most to do again. Foley sent him to the front approaching the home bend and kept on well from the last to extend his superiority over Ask Nile to three and a half lengths.

“He obviously likes it around here. He had a low weight today and travelled into it well and jumped super. Johnny was confident beforehand about him and said he was in great form,” said Foley of the 9/1 chance before adding, “It’s great to get another winner. It’s been a lucky track for me and that’s my fifth winner here from six rides.”

Long gap

Spades Are Trumps bridged a long gap from his only previous success when taking the other race over fences on the card – the Kieran Kelly Memorial Beginners Chase. Trained by Gavin Cromwell for J.P. McManus, the 9/2 shot took it up after two out for a comfortable six-length victory in the hands of Mark Walsh.

Cromwell’s assistant Feidhlim Cunningham said: “It’s nearly four years since his only previous win in a maiden hurdle. He’s been a bit frustrating and disappointing. Mark said they went strong enough which suited him and he did that well.

“We thought with a bit of ease in the ground (officially yielding, good in places) he might win a summer beginners’ chase. It’s great to get that win and we’ll see where we go with him over hurdles or fences.”

Philip Byrnes signed off from the amateur ranks in style teaming up with his brother Cathal to land the Joe Cooney Memorial Hurdle with Wonder Laish.

The 17-year-old enjoyed plenty of success on the pony racing circuit, including a Dingle Derby, and has been seen to good effect in bumpers riding four winners for Emmet Mullins as well as his family.

The 4/6 favourite challenged early in the straight and quickened up best on the run-in to account for Eclair De Beaufeu by a length, with the front-running Play The Game just a neck back in third.

Cathal Byrnes said: “That’s Philip’s first winner over hurdles and it’s great that the owner (Martin White) gave him the opportunity. He turns conditional on Monday. He’s a fair horse on the flat. We’ll have a look at the programme and he has options on the flat and over hurdles.”

Strong support

The Jessica Harrington-trained Fame And Joy proved the most impressive winner on the evening when justifying strong support – available at 10/1 in the morning and sent off the 11/5 favourite – with some degree of style in the Follow Kilbeggan Races On Facebook Maiden Hurdle. The full sister to Grade 1 winner Commander Of Fleet took command after the penultimate flight and galloped on strongly to blitz her rivals by 23 lengths.

Winning rider Sean O’Keeffe said: “That was a very nice performance. She had good bumper form and I think the ground was a bit quick for her the last day. The ground was lovely today and she jumped super. She has a nice pedigree and I’m told the owner (Patricia Coghlan) had the dam and grandam as well, so it’s great that family is still going.”

DARKENED added to a flat win at last year’s Galway Festival when landing division one of the Mahon Hospitality Group New York Handicap Hurdle.

The easy-to-back 13/2 shot found enough under pressure on the run-in to beat fellow top-weight Broken Ice by half a length and trainer/rider Denis Hogan explained his tactics afterwards, saying: “I was about to go for him turning in put decided to take my chances and not go for my stick until I had to. He loved the ground here and they went a right gallop.

“We weren’t sure if he’d make a jumper as he was a seven-furlong and a mile horse on the flat and as a four-year-old it looked like he wasn’t getting home but he’s stronger now.

“This sharp track suits him and he’ll keep mixing it with the flat. It’s great to have a winner for Justin (Carthy, owner) as he’s been a great supporter of mine,” added Hogan.

There was a big shock in division two as Berliet Express continued a good run for trainer Philip Rothwell, stretching clear on the run-in under James O’Sullivan to score by an easy eight lengths at odds of 50/1 from Lesssaidthebetter.

“The last day in Downpatrick was his first run in a handicap over two miles, three furlongs and he travelled brilliant to the second last and didn’t see it out. He has loads of pace and probably a mile on the flat would be far enough.

“A sharp two miles around here suited him and James gave him a good ride,” said Rothwell of the Fairwood Racing Syndicate-owned gelding.

SICARIO, trained by Mark McNiff for John Gerard, was prominent throughout in the opening Kilbegganraces.com Maiden Hurdle and the well-backed 9/4 favourite was driven clear on the run-in by Phillip Enright to beat Ed The Red by two and three-quarter lengths.

“He’d a good run here the last day in what was probably a better race, and he jumped fairly well today. I’m not sure where we’ll go next and we might go back to the flat with him,” said the Strandhill trainer.

The market suggested Flemencello would be difficult to beat on her debut in the bumper and so it proved as Patrick and Willie Mullins teamed up for a decisive win.

The 4/11 favourite made all after nobody wanted to go on from flagfall, and she was pushed out to assert inside the final furlong beating Acleanpairofhooves by four and three-quarter lengths.

Patrick Mullins said: “She’s a nice mare. She’s leased by the Blue Blood Racing Club off (breeder) Cathal Ennis and it was one of his father’s first broodmares so has sentimental value.

“She had to make the running, was a little green but has won as she liked. There was no pace and she had to do it the hard way. I think she’ll handle softer ground being a Flemensfirth and the bit of rain was a help. I’m not sure what the plan is now but maybe she will go jumping as she’s five.”