HIDDEN Land (7/2 joint favourite) was an unchallenged winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick.

With Shane Fitzgerald unable to take up his intended mount due to being ill, Kevin Sexton took the reins on the daughter of Hard Spun and soon established a long lead on her.

It was apparent a long way from home that she had built an unassailable advantage and Peter Byrne’s seven-year-old passed the post 11 lengths to the good. This was the first leg of a double for Sexton.

Trainer Andrew Kinirons said: “She’s actually in foal to In Swoop and she loves it here - that is her third win here. She also has a win in Down Royal, so she likes the north. Kevin gave her a great ride, he was a late sub. He was actually meant to ride her a few months ago and he got injured. He’s a natural talent and I thought of him for her before. It is his first ride for us but he is very good.”

Doubled up

Runner-up on his previous two starts, the 2/1 favourite Rightfolksplease went one better in the Randox Handicap Hurdle under a ‘kid gloves’ ride from Sexton.

The jockey gradually brought his mount from the back of the field to lead after the last and pushed him out to beat Someone’s Wish by a length and three-quarters.

Paul Flynn, who trains the son of Policy Maker for the Who Owns That Horse Syndicate, said: “He does idle a little in front, but I think fences will be the making of him. He will just be able to hang on and travel a bit longer. Hurdles maybe leave him a bit flat out.”

LITTLE Trilby (8/1) was a battling winner of the Cab Plant Maiden Hurdle over an extended two-and-a-quarter miles for Gordon Elliott and Jake Coen.

The Golden Horn gelding, who is owned by the Little Emperor Syndicate, hadn’t shown much in two bumpers, but was prominent throughout on this hurdling debut and found extra when tackled up the hill by Sirekoff to defeat that rival by a neck.

Coen said: “He was fine and raw, but battled well. I thought I had plenty of horse left so I was only nursing him and he was good. On going handicapping, the winning rider commented: “Yes, hopefully and he’ll probably have no bother going a bit further.”

The runner-up’s jockey, Paddy Hanlon, was handed a four-day suspension for frequency with the whip (second offence).

Simple task

With market rival Si Se Puede being pulled up after reportedly making a respiratory noise in running, the task of Gers Gigi (5/4 favourite) was simplified in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race and she duly obliged to seal a double for Elliott.

Placed in her first two outings at Ballinrobe, the daughter of Flemensfirth was always prominent and went on from two furlongs out to beat She Can Do It by eight lengths. Elliott trains the five-year-old for John F Doyle and Dee L’Estrange.

Rider Harry Swan said: “She’s an improving type of filly. On her last two runs she was probably unlucky to bump into horses. I just kept it very simple on her today, she gallops and she stays going. We probably went a bit too quick, but she stays really well and I was happy enough to be up in the van the whole way.”

Justifying favouritism

The Ross O’Sullivan-trained Talk In The Park justified 11/8 favouritism in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles five furlongs for the Downtown Syndicate, F.W. Healy and Philip Bowe.

The six-year-old was pushed along before the second-last by Tom Harney, but came through to lead after the final flight to beat Charlie’s Dilemma by two-and-three-quarter lengths. The winner did edge right early on the run-in and both Ollie La Ba Ba, and particularly Ashlia Dancer, were tightened up with the latter colliding with the rail.

O’Sullivan said: “He stays well and probably wants a trip, I’d say three miles is right up his alley. Today was even sharp enough for him - it didn’t look plain sailing and I was getting nervous, but he won really well in the end. He’ll be good fun for the summer and he might go to Galway.”

Harney was given a three-day ban for riding carelessly in relation to the aforementioned incident on the run-in.

GILLIAN Callaghan’s Run For Harry justified favouritism in the Download The New Tote App Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old gelding got off the mark at Kilbeggan last month which saw him go off 5/2 for this contest.

He was always to the fore with Dollar Value and led by a length from that rival approaching the last. Philip Byrnes sent him for home on the run-in and he responded generously to score by six and a half lengths.

Byrnes said: “For a big horse he really cornered well around here and jumped brilliant. He was in top order coming here and we were very hopeful he would be there or thereabouts.”

Assertive victory

Rauzan and Hugh Morgan supplemented a Tramore victory at the end of last month when taking the Dunlop Homes Rated Novice Hurdle over an extended two miles and one furlong.

Eoin Doyle’s charge was steered to the front by Morgan racing to the final flight and the duo asserted on the long run-in. From there, the race was over as they powered up the hill to come in by eight lengths at 10/1 for Mrs P Doyle.

Morgan said: “The lads said he was in good nick, but the only problem was the drop back in trip. Slower ground there today and he seemed to handle it no problem.”