THE Harvey brothers, Alex and Ben, rode a winner a piece as John McConnell sent out a double at this afternoon meeting which was rescheduled from earlier in the season.

Zefania, a useful sort on the flat winning three times in France, opened her account for current connections in the two-mile, three-furlong Kilbegganraces.com Mares Maiden Hurdle. The Blackhorse Equine Trading-owned mare was strongly challenged by Lady Nightingale after the last but the 15/8 favourite dug deep in the closing stages to score by two lengths.

“It took her a very long time to warm up into things, but we went a good gallop and I knew she stayed,” said Alex Harvey.

“I rode her in Tramore over two miles on good ground and I thought all she wanted was further. She’ll be an exciting mare and she goes with a bit of an ease.”

The McConnell double was completed half an hour later in the Kilbeggan Racecourse Novice Handicap Hurdle where Churchwarden, owned by the partnership of Mighty Macs Syndicate, Anthony O’Callaghan, Colm Herron and Dividebyfive Syndicate, also justified 15/8 favouritism under Alex’s older brother Ben. The Parish Hall gelding led before the final flight and after fending off the challenge of Desert Cave, held the rallying Andyourbirdcansing by three-quarters of a length.

“I made the running on him here the last day and he just got on with the job a lot better,” said the winning rider. “He got through the soft ground really well and after his last run here you would be expecting him to go and do that. There is definitely more improvement to come from today and I’d say he’ll get a bit further.”

It’s happy time for Harry with a Sexton family win

KATHERINE, trained by Adrian Sexton for the Jackman, Byrne, Lomax Patrnership, provided Sexton’s son Harry with his third winner and his first since turning conditional when finishing strongly to land the Follow Kilbeggan On Facebook Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The patiently ridden 13/2 shot swept to the front on the run-in before striding clear to beat Destivelle by six lengths and a delighted Harry Sexton said afterwards: “It’s an amazing day and a badly needed winner. Thanks to the owners and to my father who have supported me a lot.

“She was very classy the way she did it. We always knew she had the ability and she’s been dropped down in the handicap a bit as she’s been running below par. She’s got the job done today and hopefully there is another day in her.”

For sale

The ‘For Sale’ sign is firmly on Has Me Dreaming who also finishing with great effect to gain an unlikely victory on just his second start in the opening two-mile Kilbegganraces.com Maiden Hurdle. The My Dream Boat gelding looked booked for minor honours when going a moderate third on the home turn but really ate up the ground under Jordan Gainford on the run-in to peg back Clonshire River in the final strides.

“He’s a lovely horse. He was big and green the last day and improved a tonne for it,” said Cian Collins who trains the 14/1 winner for his uncle Noel. “We think a lot of him and he’s for sale. If I can find an owner, I’d like to keep him in the yard. I’d say he’ll be better over further and hopefully he’ll keep improving.”

Coole as a cucumber

Coole Cherry gained an important winning bracket and showed great reserves of stamina when landing the three-mile Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Maiden Hurdle. Trained by Willie Mullins for the Blue Blood Racing Club, the daughter of Mahler had proved frustrating to follow both in bumpers and maiden hurdles but scored in good style drawing clear on the run-in to beat Charlie’s Dilemma by 10 lengths.

“She was placed in Naas bumpers which reads quite well and a filly not having a penalty is always a help especially over that distance,” said rider Danny Mullins of the 3/1 winner. “She has an engine and grinded it out well. It’s nice to get the job done and she’ll be a nice one to breed from in the future.”

THE 10/11 favourite For Fear Of Frost was fatally injured just before halfway, but trainer Mouse Morris had a welcome change of luck in the following three-mile Kilbeggan Handicap Hurdle where the always prominent Camino Rock, owned by Michael and John O’Flynn, took control on the run-in under Gavin Brouder to beat Royal Cave by a comfortable two and a quarter lengths.

“He had some good runs last season, but the horses haven’t been running great since Christmas. His future is over fences the way he jumps hurdles and it looks like he’ll stay all day there,” said the Fethard trainer of the 8/1 winner. “It’s a bittersweet win and to be honest it’s hard to get excited. That’s racing as if it wasn’t hard enough!”

Kieran Callaghan picked up a four-day whip ban on third-placed Early Arrival.

Return to form

Loup De Tallane (10/1) returned to form when asserting before the last under Carl Millar to beat Beechroad Winnie by eight lengths in the 80-95 rated two-mile, three-furlong handicap hurdle.

Winning trainer Eoin Griffin said, “I’m delighted for the owners Dave Field and Eddie Aylward who have been very patient with him. He’s been one of those horses that is always picking up little niggling things and it’s been difficult to get a clear run with him.

“He won on heavy ground in Wexford nearly two years ago and I knew when that heavy shower came after the second race that it wouldn’t do his chances any harm. We might give him a run over fences before the winter.”