SAM Ewing was quick off the mark at Bellewstown on Saturday evening as he partnered the first two winners on the card. Gordon Elliott’s Little Trilby (8/1) overturned 5/6 favourite St Faz in the Lennon Solar Novice Hurdle.
St Faz led over this extended two-mile one-furlong trip, but was outgunned by Little Trilby between the final two flights. Little Trilby asserted before the last and readily took the honours by 11 lengths for the Little Emperor Syndicate.
Ewing said: “He’s progressing in leaps and bounds by the looks of things. He was good the last day at Downpatrick and he has taken a nice step forward today. I jumped fairly well the whole way round and when I asked him he quickened up. He found plenty and was very straightforward in front and did it well.”
Closing in
Ewing chalked up his double when Noel Meade’s Bridgehead obliged in the Grimme Ireland Maiden Hurdle. The 5/1 shot made progress in third three out and was left second after the penultimate flight when Intense Approach fell.
He headed Royal Hollow at the last and, although he made a mistake there, kept on well to seal the deal by two and a quarter lengths for The London Racing 2 Partnership.
Ewing said: “I was very happy the whole way round. We were going fast and I was probably a bit further off than I planned to be.
“That’s where I was comfy and he has done it nicely in the end.
“He had a little look around going to the last but, other than that, very good.”
Motoring home
Katy Brown’s Petrol Head showed battling qualities to land the feature - the Bia Energy Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle. The eight-year-old gelding was punted down to 7/4 favourite for this €50,000 contest and had to rally to regain the lead from Aeros Luck 150 yards from home.
From there, Danny Gilligan drove him in by a length and a-quarter for the Orchard Garden Syndicate.
The jockey said: “I probably hit the front a touch too soon, but he picked up when I asked him the question and landed me there too soon. It looked quite a nice race on paper. He was very good the last day (at Downpatrick) and he looks to have come on from the run a lot.”
GORDON Elliott and Danny Gilligan grabbed their doubles when Lucky Storm popped up at 11/1 in division 1 of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles.
The six-year-old mare took over at the third hurdle and made the rest. She asserted in the hands of Gilligan two out and swept in by two and three-quarter lengths for owners D & J Costello.
Assistant trainer Lisa O’Neill said: “The step up in trip definitely played to her advantage. Danny gave her a positive ride, he jumped out in front and never got hassled at the front end and he dictated his own fractions.”
Patience pays
Ta Na La shed her maiden tag in fine style at the 23rd time of asking when up in trip for the Phil & Patsy Kierans Memorial Mares Maiden Hurdle over an extended two and a half miles.
Shane O’Callaghan, sporting the colours of Mrs Helen Walsh, produced her on the inner to lead at the penultimate flight and she stormed clear on the run-in to win decisively by eight and a half lengths. She was backed in from 11/1 to 13/2.
Ted Walsh said: “She will mix and match, she’ll go for a hurdle race somewhere else now. She might go to Galway if there was something for her.”
Earning pennies
Inforapenny (9/2) enjoys Bellewstown and was prominent throughout in division 2 of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle before holding on by a head.
Hypersonic Missile certainly made a race of it when getting on terms over the last, but Inforapenny saw it out best under Aidan Kelly.
“He’s won two races and he actually won this race two years ago,” trainer Mark Fahey said.
“He was second over fences the last day at Clonmel on quick ground and we said we would come back here hoping for quick ground.
“I was a bit nervous last night when the rain was meant to come and thank God it didn’t come.
“We are delighted for Pat McCarthy, he’s a great owner and a great man.
“He loves this horse.”
COMO Park and Rachael Blackmore prevailed by a neck over Mister Beeton and Shane Fitzgerald after a tussle in the QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle.
The front two separated themselves from the field and Como Park came home just the stronger to win at 11/2 for Henry de Bromhead and the Nameless & Shameless Partnership.
After the winner survived a stewards’ inquiry involving possible interference in the closing stages, stable representative Robbie Power said: “Loved the way he fought from the back of the last - the other horse looked to be travelling a lot better, but he put his head down and fought all the way to the line.
“There’s plenty of options coming up and there is a good staying handicap at Galway. The way he put his head down and battled, you would imagine the hill in Galway could suit him.”
Galway-bound
The Passing Wife justified 8/13 favouritism in the J.H. McLoughlin Oil INH Flat Race with a strong staying performance.
He led for Declan Lavery entering the straight and galloped home well in the final furlong to close the race out by two and three-quarter lengths for the Cant Say No Syndicate.
Gavin Cromwell said: “He’s held good company all winter without getting his head in front. I suppose he was entitled to win it off his winter form. We’ll probably go for a hurdle at Galway now.”