AN evening of mixed fortunes for Tiernan Power Roche began on a positive note, as he guided Must Meet Cecil (4/1 from 6s) to a narrow win in the opening Tramore Claiming Hurdle.

Increasing his lead to two in the race to be crowned champion conditional, the Co Wexford native was then hit with an eight-day careless riding ban, which will see him miss the Punchestown Festival.

Returning from a lengthy absence, the Cian Collins-trained seven-year-old took closer order from three out and was pushed along to challenge before the next.

Gaining a slight advantage away from that flight, the Tommy Sheridan-owned victor was pressed by Darkened approaching the last and, while drifting left on the run-in, he just did enough to prevail by half a length.

“It’s nice to get him back, he has been off a while with an injury and we’ve given him plenty of time,” Collins remarked.

“Hopefully, he’ll improve a bit and that’s his third claiming hurdle win now.”

Darkened (€6,000) and third place finisher Gamigin (€12,000) were both later claimed by John McConnell and Gary McGill respectively.

Placed in three bumpers and subsequently bought by current connections for €20,000, Prove Yourself bounced back from a disappointing effort at Navan to take the Ladies’ Day August 16th Maiden Hurdle.

Bounced back

Trained by Ross O’Sullivan and owned by the Sarsfields Racing Syndicate, the 9/4 chance was given a patient ride by Donagh Meyler. Pushed along in sixth before two out, he soon made good progress and got to the front approaching the final flight, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by two and a half lengths.

“He came on from the run at Navan and Ross was confident enough today,” Meyler revealed.

“It was his first time over hurdles at Navan and he probably just had a nice blow there. Hopefully he can keep on improving.”

Kelly’s Zebo shows plenty of zip in an easy win

FRESH from a double the previous afternoon, Alex Harvey struck again on Our Zebo, with this Noel Kelly-trained grey proving much too good for his rivals in the Anne Valley Walk Handicap Hurdle.

An encouraging second at Downpatrick recently, the 88-rated six-year-old was sent off a 7/2 joint-favourite and benefitted from a patient ride.

Closer in fifth from three out, he swept to the front before the next and soon had matters under control, coasting to an 11-length success in the colours of John O’Hagan.

“He was always a nice horse at home, but he wasn’t giving us all the effort that he should have,” Kelly reflected.

“I think dropping him out is the key to him and I’d say it’s the only way to ride him.”

Strong support

Star Official was another to easily brush aside the opposition, as he justified strong market support in the Copper Coast Handicap Hurdle.

Returned a 4/1 chance (from 10s early), the Dick Donohoe-trained seven-year-old was also ridden patiently, making good headway on the outer from the third last flight.

Pushed along and getting to the front before the next, he quickly increased his advantage and ultimately had 10 lengths to spare at the line.

“I would have been disappointed if he wasn’t competitive here,” Donohoe, who also owns the bay gelding with Donal Doyle, commented.

“Someone was backing him, but it wasn’t me. He runs well most of the time, but hardly ever wins.”

BY far the oldest runner in the line-up and sent off the outsider of the field at 33/1, Ta Se Rua was a shock winner of the concluding Gaultier Hunters Chase.

Providing owner/trainer Pat Healy with his first track success since 2002, the Flying Legend 12-year-old led for much of the contest under Andy Burke-Ott.

While headed by the well-supported 6/5 favourite Gale Force Jet five out, he regained the lead after the third last and kept finding for pressure in the closing stages, holding off the late surge of fellow outsider Long Road (28/1) by three-quarters of a length.

“He didn’t really get the trip at Thurles the last day and I was hoping the shorter distance today would suit,” Healy disclosed.

“His dam is a half-sister to Lough Derg that Martin Pipe used to have. He would stay forever, but this fella doesn’t quite get three miles. He might get it when he is 14!”

Island McCoo was another to spring a surprise, with this Darren Collins-trained eight-year-old registering a first career win in the West Waterford Handicap Chase.

Progress

On his second try over fences, the Virtual chesnut raced towards rear under Philip Donovan, making some progress into seventh with a circuit to race.

Owned and bred by Raymond Healy, the 89-rated 16/1 chance was much closer from the third last and travelled well to challenge on the outer approaching the next.

Getting to the front away from that fence, he stuck to his task gamely on the run-in to hold off the effort of Wyoming Baby by two lengths.

“He ran a nice race the last day at Limerick and we thought that he’d run a nice race here today,” Collins divulged.

“His owners kind of tell me what to do with him, they are good men, they know where to go and they told me to come down here.”

One better

Beaten just three-quarters of a length into second on her only previous visit to the venue, Pipers Boreen (8/1 from 14s) went a place better in the Tramore Promenade Beginners Chase.

Tracking the leaders on the inner under Conor Stone-Walsh, the Shane Nolan-trained seven-year-old made progress to lead from two out

While pressed by Beggars Rock before the last, the Tom Birmingham-owned victor was much the quicker away from that fence and kept on well in the closing stages to prevail by a length.

“We were a little bit worried about the ground. We walked it and thought it was safe enough for her to run,” Nolan reported.

“She jumped super and we’ll see how she comes out of this. We might look to give her one more run or we might let her off.”