SAM Ewing and Gordon Elliott completed doubles on Monday evening’s Killarney card when Ash Tree Meadow (4/1) made all in the featured Grade 3 BoyleSports An Riocht Chase.

The Alymer Stud’s eight-year-old, who enjoyed his finest hour in last summer’s Galway Plate, jumped well and scored readily by five and a half lengths from French Dynamite with odds-on favourite Gentleman Du Mee found wanting for stamina back in third.

Ewing exclaimed: “It took me four years to ride a winner here and now I’ve ridden two today!

“Two miles was too sharp for him the last day but he went well on that ground today and his jumping was exceptional, he takes lengths everywhere. I was happy to drive on and I had plenty left from a long way out.”

Uhtred (28/1) had been the first leg of the Elliott/Ewing double when landing the M.D. O’Shea & Sons Handicap Hurdle in a finish of ‘roughies’.

Off the pace

A five-time winner for Joseph O’Brien in his younger days, Ed Mulligan’s nine-year-old came from well off the pace to collar longtime leader Ceroc in the final strides for a neck success.

“That was his first run for a while and he had a good run here last year so hopefully he can keep progressing,” said Ewing. “I landed from America early this morning having had two unplaced rides for Gordon yesterday. It was very much worth the trip home.”

Littlebiggie made all the running under Liam Quinlan in the Executive Helicopters Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Heavily backed into 7/2, the daughter of Ask beat Wudya by four and a quarter lengths.

Winning trainer Ray Hackett, based in Toomevara, said: “She doesn’t quicken but has a good high tempo and is a nice one to have for the summer. You’d like to think she’ll be a better mare over fences too as she jumps great.

“Liam is in with me, so knows her and knows how to ride her, and Martin Hogan (owner) is from right across the road.”

OVERNIGHT rain arrived in time for Park The Giant (7/2) to win the Diarmuid Cronin Electrical Ltd Maiden Hurdle under jockey Brian Hayes.

The large Walk In The Park-sired six-year-old, owned by Mike Neville, had half a length to spare over Winning Smut.

Afterwards trainer Philip Fenton reported: “He is a huge fella and this was going to be his last run of the season. If the rain hadn’t come, he was going out in a field.

“If he had been beaten today, he was going to make a hunter chaser but now he’ll go chasing next season.”

Survived inquiry

Another sizeable six-year-old by Walk In The Park, Nas Na Riogh (5/2 joint-favourite) survived a stewards’ inquiry before being confirmed the winner of the Shire Novice Hurdle for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore.

Nas Na Riogh, owned by Charlie, Mark and Cathal Doocey, made the running and while narrowly headed after the last by hurdling debutant and market rival My Lyka, rallied in the final strides to score by a nose.

The pair had a very minor coming-together jumping the final flight and it was little surprise that the result was allowed to stand.

De Bromhead’s assistant Robbie Power remarked: “After Tipperary we were going to give him a break for the summer but the ground stayed safe and this looked a suitable race so we took a punt and it has paid off.

“A track like this would be sharp enough for him and I’d imagine he’ll go on a break now and go novice chasing next year.”

Doors delivers for O’Connor

AFTER Ash Tree Meadow in the feature, Early Doors (3/1) was a second Galway Plate winner to prove victorious as Enda Bolger’s veteran landed the Dan Linehan’s Celebrating 50 Years Of Hospitality Hunters Chase.

This was a first win under rules since his Ballybrit triumph in 2020 for the J.P. McManus-owned 11-year-old. Patiently handled by Derek O’Connor, the winner headed front-running Romeo Magic on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths.

“That was great and we’ll head on to Listowel now, which is the next one,” said Bolger. “The spring and the nicer ground is a big factor to him and he then has that bit of class.

“It is great to win a race with him again and Derek gave him a masterful ride. He is a diamond.”

The ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained A Mere Bagatelle won the Oyster Tavern Handicap Chase at odds of 7/1.

Always prominent, the Alan Cullen-owned gelding went clear with three to jump and kept up the gallop to account for Listenheretomejack by five lengths.

Winning rider Shane Fenelon said: “He jumped well apart from a few minor mistakes and once I got to the front I wasn’t going to take him back on a sharp track like this.”

Allen responds

It didn’t look likely early in the straight but 11/10 favourite Jump Allen eventually found his stride inside the final quarter mile to win the Beaufort Golf Club Ladies (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

Jody Townend was rowing away on the Manduro gelding once they turned for home but he gradually responded to her urgings, ultimately scoring with a degree of comfort by a length and three quarters from Major Barry.

Townend said of Willie Mullins’ debutant who carries the colours of McSweeney Bros Quarries Limited: “I thought we went just a fair gallop but they went racing very early – nearly four furlongs out.

“He was green and it took a while for the penny to drop but once I got after him and gathered him up, he almost got there too soon. He’ll improve a lot from that and is bred for a trip.”