OVER an inch of rain overnight led to a spate of non-runners at Ballinrobe’s jumps fixture where Danny Gilligan, who recently rode out his claim, recorded a double.

Gilligan struck first on Drumgill (13/8 favourite) who continued the excellent run of the John Ryan yard when completing a hat-trick in the Cummins Homevalue Hardware Handicap Hurdle.

The Elusive Pimpernel gelding made light of top weight of 12st 3lb, and led after the last to readily defeat Tomas O Maille by seven lengths.

“He’s a late maturer who’s getting better and stronger every time I put a saddle on him,” said Ryan, who owns the five-year-old himself.

“After Danny was second on him here, I said I’d leave him on the horse and now he’s won three on him. Given all the non-runners in this race, I hope the handicapper won’t be too hard on him!”

Raider gets a win

Gilligan combined with fellow Galwegian Kevin Heffernan to complete his brace on The Vegas Raider (10/3) in the Broderick’s Electric Handicap Hurdle.

Placed on two of his previous three starts, the son of Kendargent came from off the pace to foil gambled-on reserve Ragmans Corner by half a length.

“We were slightly concerned because he’s a good-ground horse, but he’s learning to adapt to easier ground,” said Athenry-based Heffernan who trains the winner for his father, Thomas.

“Danny gave him a great spin, we’d said we’d keep him wide and try and pick a track on the outside.

“We have a small string at home, mostly for point-to-points. It’s great to have a track winner but I’m looking forward to when the point-to-points are back!”

THE Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle was the most valuable contest on the card and provided a cracking finish with Littlefoot (4/1) touching off market leader Arctic Gale by a nose.

The pair came close as they battled it out on the run-in but no enquiry was called and trainer Mark Molloy said of the Liam McKenna-ridden victor: “On his bumper form you would have hoped that he’d have got his head in front before now, but he picked up a very nasty injury to his hoof at Gowran Park last year and it was touch and go whether he was going to come back.

“He belongs to some great friends and characters (Littlefoot Partnership) and is a fun horse for them. We’ll probably look for a handicap and see where he finds his level.”

Breakthrough

Dorans Law (11/4) made the breakthrough on his debut for Philip Rothwell when landing the Burleigh Accountancy Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe.

Previously in the care of Michael Hourigan, the Champs Elysees six-year-old was fitted with cheekpieces for the first time and led after the last to beat Flidais by four and a half lengths.

“Tom Doran is a hugely supportive owner,” said Rothwell.

“He didn’t travel from Britain today because of the uncertainty about the ground. As it turned out, the ground is beautiful out there, I’d say it’s more like good to yielding, so we took our chance and it worked out great.

“I looked at his videos and felt a step up in trip would help him. Getting nice horses like him is a huge bonus for a yard like mine.”

Third time lucky

Trained by Eric McNamara for the Killarney-based Forever Optimists Syndicate, Frankendael (7/2) made it third time lucky over flights in the Bank Of Ireland Brendan Maloney Memorial Maiden Hurdle.

The Camelot gelding was produced to lead on the run-in and defeated Houlanbatordechais by three lengths.

“He’s a bit tricky getting to the start at times and kind of has a mind of his own,” commented winning rider Conor McNamara.

“We just went a fraction quick, I felt, and I was able to get a grand position. He could go for a rated novice if one comes up, but he’s definitely a good enough jumper to step straight into handicap company. He’ll jump a fence too.”

GIVEN a well-judged ride by J.J. Slevin, well-fancied reserve Prairie Angel (9/4) made the perfect start over obstacles in the C.J Sheeran Ltd 3yo Maiden Hurdle.

Despite not jumping with much fluency, the Joseph O’Brien-trained filly collared long-time leader Ceol Draiochta close home to score by half a length.

“I’ve done all the schooling on her and she’s been pretty good at home.

“She must have got a bit of a fright early, because she got cautious and was pretty green throughout,” Slevin commented.

“She’s done well to win in the circumstances and coped with the ground well.

“Her brother Prairie Dancer has been a great servant for the two lads (owners Sean Sweeney and Kieran O’Hare) and if she can do half as much as he did, she’ll be a right one.

“She can mix it and is going to be competitively enough handicapped (rated 64) on the flat, so she might be able to do that job as well.”

Third win

Trainer Noel Kelly registered a third success in less than a week when Coastal World (11/2) claimed the concluding J.J Burke Peugeot Handicap Hurdle.

Hannah McCrory’s nine-year-old was never far from the pace and got the better of a good tussle with My Friend The Wind to win by a neck.

“He’d a very good run behind a good horse in Dollar Value in a claimer at Roscommon,” said winning rider Alex Harvey.

“We didn’t go a mad gallop and he was a little bit in my hands.

“He didn’t jump great throughout but was able to flick away through them and not lose too much momentum. When push came to shove, he was gutsy and battled away gamely to the line.”