GORDON Elliott dominated proceedings at the two-day Down Royal meeting but he certainly didn’t leave Gowran empty-handed either teaming up with Jordan Gainford for a 9/1 double via Harmonya Maker and Western Fold.

Harmonya Maker got her chasing career off to an impressive start in the Noreside Catering Irish EBF Mares Beginners Chase. The Tim O’Driscoll-owned 5/2 chance was always prominent and took command approaching the straight before galloping on strongly to beat the odds-on Brandy Love by 11 lengths.

Elliott’s assistant Ian ‘Busty’ Amond said, “She got to do her own thing in front and settled away as she can be a bit head strong, so it was as good a start as you could wish for. She’s been jumping well at home but until you go and do it here it’s a different story.”

Gainford also had Western Fold (15/8) up with the pace throughout and along with chief market rival Crack The Sky, dominated division two of the PRL Group Maiden Hurdle from a long way out.

The Westerner gelding, who showed promise on debut when third in the valuable Goffs Sales bumper at the Punchestown Festival, but unseated rider when switched to hurdles here last time, was sent to the front before the third last and went clear before the last to score by 10 lengths.

“Jordan said he’d try and get a lead after what happened to him here the last day and let him stride on turning out of the back as he stays going well.

“He had a look at the last but stayed going well to the line and it’s our first winner for Weld-Spec who are from Scotland,” said Amond.

Impressive winners

Beckett Rock, by Kayf Tara out of a sister to Column Of Fire and trained by Henry de Bromhead for Michael O’Flynn, took division one in equally decisive fashion. The 10/1 shot had asserted when nearest rival Cut The Rope fell at the last and Mike O’Connor’s mount finished strongly to beat Joyeux Vivo by 15 lengths.

“That was good first time out. He took a lead, jumped well and handled the ground. It was fairly straight forward and he finished out the race well,” said O’Connor.

Ile Atlantique, trained by Willie Mullins for Tony Bloom, completed a trio of easy maiden hurdle winners when justifying odds of 4/9 in the Proficient Engineering Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle.

The Leopardstown bumper winner made most of the running and stretched clear after the penultimate flight under Paul Townend to beat Diamboy Des Carres by 19 lengths.

“It was a very good performance on ground that heavy it will find any hole in you. He’d good bumper form and is a lovely horse going forward. He covers a lot of ground and his jumping is a big asset to him,” said Townend.

Dreams clocking up the wins

LIAM Quinlan was another rider in double form and he partnered Lucid Dreams to take the featured Golf At Gowran Park Handicap Chase.

The John Ryan-owned and trained gelding didn’t make his debut until this spring but is certainly making up for lost time recording his fifth win in this two-mile event.

The well-backed 13/8 favourite was headed early in the straight by Krabat but rallied gamely on the run-in to get the better of that rival by a length and a quarter, although Quinlan did pick up a three-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Ryan said: “He’s a big, strong horse but has been too keen in graded races so we decided to go for a handicap and Andrew Shaw gave him the same mark (133) as he has over hurdles.

“He was really gutsy to battle back. He can stay three miles but he has to learn to settle and we ran him back quick as racing will settle him.”

Quinlan was also on the mark aboard Intersky Sunset in the Pat Carroll’s Pub Kilkenny Mares Handicap Hurdle. The 5/1 favourite led before the last and was driven out by the 5lb claimer to beat outsider Ella Rose by two and a quarter lengths.

“Liam gave her a grand ride and I thought coming here that her mark was reasonable. She’s in again on Thursday at Punchestown and we’ll see what the handicapper is going to do with her. She jumps well and is a nice quiet mare,” said Declan Queally who trains the six-year-old for his mother Bernie.

SILENT Approach gave trainer/breeder Con O’Keeffe particular pleasure when making most to open her account in the Gerry Comerford Drilling Beginners Chase.

The well-supported 10/3 favourite, owned in partnership by the Waterford trainer’s wife Claire and Tadhg O’Sullivan, kept on well from two out for Danny Mullins to beat Noble Blue by six and a half lengths.

O’Keeffe said: “She deserved that as she’s been placed several times over hurdles including in a listed race and it’s great when you breed them. It’s a beautiful family and she will be going to the breeding shed eventually. Danny did a super job.”

Me Wee Bonnie Lass belied a major drift in the betting (6/1 in the morning, returned 20/1) by following up a debut win at Downpatrick over the summer in the Gain Equine Nutrition Novice Handicap Hurdle.

The daughter of Doyen led before the last and was just pushed out by Sean Flanagan to beat Ring O Roses by two and a half lengths.

“I thought she might struggle as she’s small and the ground is deep. We gave her plenty of time after her win in Downpatrick and I’m delighted with that,” said Gavin Cromwell, who trains the winner for Mark Coleman. “We’ll see what the handicapper does and take it from there.”