A RECENT run of misfortune was banished to the distant past as the classy Davids Charm bagged the good flat prize that his talents deserved in the KWD Kingdom Gold Cup Handicap.

After a desperately unlucky defeat at the Curragh earlier this summer and a less than clear passage in the Galway Hurdle, where he still finished a fine fourth, the John Joe Walsh inmate was a well-backed 2/1 favourite for the €50,000 feature. Things went to plan for the Chris Hayes-ridden and Tom O’Brien partnership-owned eight-year-old at all stages of this one- and-three-quarter-mile event, and he found plenty under pressure over the last furlong and a half to defeat Dalton Highway by a length.

“It’s a change of luck for him as he was very unlucky at the Curragh and he got no run in the Galway Hurdle,” said Walsh. “The conditions suited him, although Chris (Hayes) felt that he might like the ground a little looser. He’ll go to Listowel now for the €100,000 (Ladbrokes) Handicap Hurdle.”

Love on high

She looked a filly of some promise when making a winning debut at Cork three months ago and Loveisthehigherlaw (4/1) once again impressed in the Killarney Racegoers Club Race. The daughter of Kodiac overcame her relative inexperience and found plenty for Wayne Lordan in the closing stages of this 11-furlong affair to prevail by a neck from the odds-on Blenheim Palace who set a fair standard with a rating of 105. Loveisthehigherlaw was making a successful debut for her American owners Team Valor who raced her Group 1-winning dam Sweet Stream for much of her career.

“I didn’t want to run her in a stakes race on her second start and we had this race picked out for her for a while,” said Paddy Twomey. “She has good entries but we won’t run her too often this year as she’ll be better at four. Her dam was four when she won a Group 1.”

There was also a reverse for favourite backers in the opener as Dawn Of The West (11/1) upstaged some better fancied rivals in the Irish EBF-sponsored fillies’ maiden over just short of a mile and a half. On just her third outing, the half-sister to the smart dual-purpose performer Pearl Of The West showed a fine attitude for Colin Keane to get the better of a protracted duel with The Tooth Fairy, with the well-backed favourite Getaway Katie Mae only fifth.

Noel Meade trains the €8,500 yearling purchase for Martin Cullinane and this 11th success of the campaign means that the trainer is on course to post his best tally for a flat season since 2008.

There was some respite for punters in the G.M.H.D. Apprentice Handicap where Joseph O’Brien’s Royal Aide (5/2) made short work of his rivals. After a solid handicap debut outing at Galway, the Shane Crosse-ridden son of Galileo dominated the closing stages to score by just under four lengths. He is likely to turn out again at Bellewstown on Wednesday.

Back with a bang

On his first day back since fracturing his tibia in a fall on the penultimate day of the Punchestown Festival, Mark Walsh enjoyed the perfect return to competitive action as he won on both his rides which featured in a treble for J.P. McManus.

Walsh’s evening began with a success on Act In Time in the Owens McCarthy Claims Specialists Handicap Chase. Despite having to overcome a near four-month absence from the saddle, he was seen at his best as he got the Padraig Roche inmate home by half a length from Smithscorner in this extended two-mile contest. This was a third career success for Act In Time, all at this track. Roche indicated that Listowel could be next for the well-backed 9/2 favourite.

Walsh’s brace was completed by Movewiththetimes in the Killarney Oaks Hotel Beginners Chase over two and three-quarter miles as the talented eight-year-old finally got off the mark over fences. The 7/4 chance, who was sent off joint-favourite for last month’s Galway Plate and was going nicely when he departed at the ninth fence, enjoyed a perfect confidence-boosting outing as he cruised to a six-length victory. On just his second start for Enda Bolger, the Presenting gelding was enjoying a welcome change of luck having failed to complete on four of his previous five outings.

“That was perfect for him and hopefully he’ll go on to Listowel for either the Kerry National or a novice race. He’s a nice horse who stays very well,” reported Bolger.

J.P. McManus and Enda Bolger also struck with Thatbeatsbanagher (8/1) in the Kelly Foley O’Connor Pyne Handicap Chase. A 12 race maiden coming into this 0-109 rated event, the five-year-old son of Flemensfirth was ridden by Donie McInerney and from the second last fence he always looked to have the measure of Mister Butler who went down by two and a half lengths. The winner could also be bound for Listowel.

The evening concluded with a taking debut from Double Talkin Jive in the John Lane & Son’s Ltd Flat Race which enabled Pat Martin to send out his first bumper winner for seven years. Declan Lavery, who was on board the trainer’s previous winner in this sphere, partnered this half-brother to Aussie Valentine who picked up smartly to take charge of this race inside the last furlong. The four-year-old then lasted home by half a length from the strong finishing Slige Dala.

The Nigel Carolan-owned winner was returned at 12/1 having been as big as 25/1 earlier in the day and he looks a useful type.