ENJOYING a fruitful summer campaign, Pat Flynn registered his eighth winner since May when Walnut Beach landed the feature O’Donoghue Ring Collection Handicap Chase.

A versatile performer, the Helena Brassil-owned seven-year-old was sent off a 12/1 chance in this 14-runner listed heat. 

Steadied into the final fence by Gary Noonan, the 122-rated victor needed to be ridden out on the run-in to hold off the rallying El Champo by a length and a quarter.

“It was a lovely pot to win and he was electric the whole way. We quickened up going down the back straight and it turned into a slog, but he stayed galloping,” Noonan commented.

Bouncing back

Also returned at 12/1, Swelltime bounced back to his best under Carl Millar in the first division of the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Keen early on before improving to lead from the fifth, the William O’Doherty-trained bay had all his rivals off the bridle from early in the straight and kept up the gallop from there, eventually winning by two and a quarter lengths.

“He got a full rotational fall at Limerick in March of 2023 and spent three days inside at the racecourse,” O’Doherty, who trains the winner for the Swelltime Partnership, revealed.

“We had given up on him but my veterinary surgeon Derek Long, who recently passed away, was a big help to me along with my physiotherapist at home, Brian McCarthy.”

Galway boys

The second division of this two and a half mile contest went to Ask Cillian, with Jack Gilligan aboard this well-backed seven-year-old for fellow Co Galway native Darren Collins.

Supported from 10s into 4/1 favouritism, the bay mare improved to lead three out and was ridden clear after the next, keeping on strongly in the closing stages to win by six lengths.

Owned by John, James and Emmett Kelly, along with Nelius McAuliffe, Collins said in the aftermath: “I was hoping she would be in the top four and maybe placed but I didn’t think she’d run that well.

“I have my licence over a year now, we’ve 10 horses in at the moment and that’s my second winner.”

WILLIE Mullins and Paul Townend combined for a 54/1 double, with 4/1 chance Arctic Fly controversially sealing the brace in the Killarney Park Hotel Beginners Chase.

Veering left before the second and not jumping the fence within the apparent boundaries, the Brendan O’Sullivan-owned six-year-old continued in the race.

Getting to the front and skipping a few lengths clear before the last, the now four-time winner was all out on the run-in to hold off Ballywilliam Boy by a head.

“The stewards were satisfied that, as per Regulation 9, Arctic Fly stayed at the right side of the bundle of birch on the approach to the fence and jumped inside the wing of it,” Niall Cronin, IHRB Communications Manager, later explained.

There was more early drama in the opening Laurels Bar & Restaurant Maiden Hurdle, with Mr Escobar running out at the first when disputing the lead alongside fellow Mullins representative Where’s My Jet (10/1 from 9/2 early).

The latter soon established a healthy advantage and while his lead was reduced approaching the straight, he went on again after three out and came home four and a half lengths to the good.

“He was keen in Galway, so we left him gallop along today and he prefers doing that. He jumps brilliantly so we made use of it,” Townend, who donned the silks of the Two Lucky Men Partnership, reflected.

AFTER a famous victory in the Ebor at York with Magical Zoe, Easy Fella kept the ball rolling as another winner for Henry de Bromhead in the Killarney Avenue Novice Chase, though there was a sad postscript to this success.

Sent straight to the front by Rachael Blackmore, the 5/2 chance made all and, despite a mistake four out, he had home four and three-quarters of a length to spare at the line.

The Four In One Syndicate-owned bay was lame post-race and didn’t return to the winner’s enclosure. He was listed as having subsequently died in Horse Racing Ireland’s calendar notices this week.

Long lead

Another Co Waterford-based handler claimed the Bunkers Bar & Restaurant Handicap Hurdle, with the Ken Budds-trained Anyway trouncing his 12-rivals in this two-mile, six-furlong heat.

Returned a well-supported 8/1 chance (20s early), the Jukebox Jury six-year-old raced in second behind clear leader Littlebiggie. Cruising past the front-runner three out, the Jack Kennedy ridden victor soon bounded clear and won by 14 lengths.

 “Nothing went right for him in Galway, but he is a lovely horse, who will stay three miles and we have him schooled over fences as well, Budds, who trains the winner for his father Paddy, divulged.  

Finishing sixth, Falco Blitz was later disqualified after his rider Calum Hogan failed to weigh-in. The conditional rider was subsequently suspended for two days and ordered to forfeit his riding fee

Justified

Owned, trained and bred by Peter Lawlor, Murat was another to justify strong market support, as he comfortably dismissed the opposition in the concluding ML Lynch Civil Engineering INH Flat Race.

The only debutant in the line-up, the five-year-old was available at 33/1 in early shows, eventually going off an 11/2 chance under Finian Maguire.

Travelling strongly in third with a furlong and a half to go, the imposing Eliot bay was soon sent to the front and went on in the closing stages, winning by five and a half lengths.  

“He is 17 hands high, is green as grass and there is improvement to come. Maybe he is for sale, I’m a small trainer and need the bucks!” Co Wicklow-based Lawlor disclosed.