IT took just five runners and two days for Gordon Elliott to get back amongst the winners as Fancy Foundations, one of four horses that the trainer sent to Sligo, made it two victories from as many starts over fences in the two-and-a-half-mile conditions chase.

Elliott’s well-publicised six-month suspension from the sport came to an end nine days ago when he was able to make entries for the various fixtures that took place this week.

After an unplaced runner at Punchestown on Tuesday, Elliott’s first three representatives on this card met with defeat, but Fancy Foundations set the record straight to provide his trainer with his first winner since March 6th.

The winner, who carries the colours of Andrew and Gemma Brown’s Caldwell Construction, was returning to the track for the first time since winning a Down Royal beginners’ chase on the opening day of the new season.

He was sent off the evens favourite under Denis O’Regan, who was replacing the stood down Bryan Cooper, and turned in a nice effort. After travelling well through the race, he led after two out and overcame a mistake at the final fence to account for Blackstair Rocco by four lengths before receiving a warm reception on his return to the enclosure.

Reception

“It’s great to be back racing and it’s great to have a winner and it was lovely to get that reception from the people here,” stated the trainer. “I’m delighted he has won for Andrew and Gemma who are great supporters and have been very patient over the last six months, as have a lot of my owners.

“In terms of this horse, a better gallop might suit him and he wouldn’t be one for winter ground, so he’ll head to Cheltenham in October and we’ll see how he gets on there.”

As he reflected on his return to the winner’s enclosure the trainer added: “I was hoping coming here that I might get a winner and now that’s out of the way I just want to get back to doing what I love.

“I’m looking forward to just training winners and repaying my owners and staff who have stuck by me.”

John Ryan dominates with four-timer

SLIGO’s annual all-chase card belonged to one man and one man only as John Ryan reeled off four-timer which leaves him needing just one more winner to hit the 30-mark for the season.

Twice in the last six seasons Ryan has reached 15 winners for the campaign, but from early May it was clear that a momentous few months could be in the offing for the yard and that has been borne out by the relentless flow of winners.

Sean O’Keeffe, who had a treble on the day, partnered two of Ryan’s winners and was on hand to bring up the four-timer on Father Jed in the 0-95 rated handicap chase over an extended three miles.

On a day of days for the Ryan yard, Father Jed was given a well-judged waiting ride but, in truth, he was set for second approaching the last where the four-timer chasing and odds-on favourite Favori Logique looked to be firmly in command.

However, the latter clipped the top of the last fence and came down when holding a race winning lead and this left Father Jed to score by eight lengths.

“That’s Sean’s first treble and Philip Donovan who rode Rippon Lodge lost his 7lb claim today as well so there’s been a lot happening. It’s been a great day,” said Ryan.

Well-backed

O’Keeffe’s other winner for Ryan came on the well-backed Kitty Galore in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase. The Ryan-owned front-running seven-year-old had her task eased somewhat when the odds-on favourite The Sliding Rock got the third last fence all wrong and lost all chance of getting involved. This left Kitty Galore (7/2) with She Tops The Lot to fend off and she did so in gritty style to carry the day a length and a half.

It was then the turn of the Philip Donovan-ridden Rippon Lodge (15/2) in the Leo McMurrow Memorial Novice Handicap Chase. This eight-year-old struggled at Ballinrobe five days previously but was back to the form that saw him win at Tramore last month.

When Alice Avril tore off into a clear lead with over a circuit to run, Rippon Lodge covered this move and he took her measure after two out for a five-and-a-half-length triumph over the evens favourite Bentham, who looked to be in trouble some way from home. Ryan trains the winner for the Bitview Partnership.

“He’s a big strong horse who’s eight now and has needed every day of it. He’s matured this year and is a fine jumper of a fence. We’ll look for something in Listowel for him,” commented the trainer.

The other member of the four-timer was Grange Walk whom Bryan Cooper produced from off the pace to justify 4/1 joint favouritism in the Frank O’Beirne Handicap Chase over an extended two miles. He had moved to the head of a well-grouped bunch approaching the last fence where he was left several lengths clear by the independent falls of fellow market leader Benefit Run (held every chance) and Ingleby Mackenzie who was lying in a close third.

“The sky’s the limit for him. He’ll be better than a handicapper and could be one for the nicer novice chases,” remarked Ryan, who sent out a treble at the corresponding meeting in 2016.

SEAN O’Keeffe’s other winner on the card came for another trainer enjoying a fine season in Tom Gibney whose Bold Emperor who made all in the Brenda Anderson Memorial Beginners Chase for horses rated 109 or less over hurdles.

Some four and a half years after he last won a race, the Walter and Finian Partnership-owned gelding produced a brave effort from the front to carry the day by a length and a quarter from Rebel Waltz, whose rider Ambrose McCurtin was given a seven-day whip ban.

Trainer Paul Fahey sent out a winner for fellow farrier Killian Carroll when Diggin Deep (15/2) came back to form in the 0-102 rated handicap chase over two and a half miles.

The good-ground-loving 11-year-old was partnered by Brian Hayes and lived up to his name in grinding out a half-length triumph over Zagnzig. He may turn out again at Listowel next week.