LESS than two months after riding his first winner, 7lb claimer Darragh O’Keeffe bagged a huge victory as the classy Enda Bolger inmate Ballyoisin carried the day in the €100,000 Ladbrokes Ireland Listowel Handicap Hurdle.

Another festival winner for J.P. McManus, Ballyoisin holds a rating of 157 over fences but he was some 26lbs lower over timber and this substantially increased prize was enough to lure him back to the smaller obstacles for just his third run over hurdles in three years.

The 18-year-old O’Keeffe, who rode his first winner for Bolger and McManus at Killarney in July, was entrusted with a ride of real quality.

In a steadily run affair, Ballyoisin was always nicely placed on the inner and when the sprint for him began on the approach to the straight, the Presenting gelding picked up well.

He was vying for the lead jumping the second last and soon had the measure of the front-running Voix Du Reve.

Ballyoisin was chased down to the last by the favourite, Shanning, but he flew that obstacle and kept going well to finish a length ahead. Voix Du Reve took third, with Plinth securing fourth.

“He got a great ride and it’s a great pot to win. In fairness to Frank Berry (owner’s racing manager) he was the one that picked out this race and the horse had a nice hurdles mark,” said Bolger. “We might go back over fences for the Grade 2 two-and-a-half-mile chase at Gowran in a few weeks, and he’s a horse that doesn’t want deep, winter ground so we might put him away when the ground changes. It’s great for Darragh, who has been with us for the last year, and Mr McManus has been very good to him.”

The thrilled rider, who was recording the fifth success of his career, reflected: “I was like a child in a sweetshop yesterday morning when I saw I was riding him. I’m delighted to be able to repay Mr Manus and Mr Bolger for their faith. To win a race like this is huge.’’

The Martin Brassil-trained Vent De La Cote made it a double for McManus as he sprang a 25/1 surprise in the Devon Inn Hotel Handicap Hurdle. The nine-year-old was running for the first time since April and turned in a smart display to record his first win in two and a half years.

Mark Walsh sent him past the favourite, Great Trango, in between the last two flights and Vent De La Cote finished with two and a half lengths to spare.

“He lost his way over fences so I suggested that maybe we would try him back over hurdles and, as he’s a soft ground horse, he hasn’t been able to run until now. He’s probably a better hurdler than a chaser,” commented Brassil.

Willie Mullins and his son Patrick have combined for some facile winners this summer and Exchange Rate won as easily as any of them in the Listowel Races Supporters Club Failte Abhaile (Q.R.) Race. The Annette Mee-owned son of Monsun was the 1/6 favourite to gain compensation for a narrow defeat in a Killarney premier handicap last month and Patrick Mullins could afford to sit motionless throughout this one-and-three-quarter-mile race.

Exchange Rate raced effortlessly to see off Backsheesh in the straight and he was hard held to score by one and three-quarter lengths.

“It mightn’t be too popular in my sister’s house tonight after beating her horse (the Sandra McCarthy-owned Backsheesh),” quipped Mullins. “He will stay on the flat for the time being for some good staying handicaps.”

MULLINS DOUBLE

Mullins then brought up a double as the Paul Townend-ridden Orion D’Aubrelle (8/1) improved on the form of his first two efforts over fences in the Kevin McManus Beginners Chase over two and three-quarter miles. The five-year-old hadn’t won on his first six outings for the champion trainer but he came with a strong challenge to lead at the second last and held off the favourite, Its All Guesswork, to prevail by a length and a quarter.

“He’s the first winner for Joanne Coleman whose husband, John, was a good owner of ours and sadly passed away. I’m delighted for her and hopefully it’s the start of a good season as we have a few horses for her,” commented Mullins. “This horse has been disappointing but we’ve changed a few things with him which has paid off and the step-up in trip has been a big help to him.”

The burden of top weight and a stall 15 draw weren’t enough to prevent Fozzy Stack’s Shifted Strategy from notching up the first success of his career in the Byrne Family Handicap.

In the colours of the long time Stack patron Michael Begley, the son of Choisir was showing up prominently for Killian Hennessy from early on and he showed a good attitude in the straight. Over the course of the last furlong and a half the 16/1 shot, who was wearing cheekpieces for the first time, subdued Dharma Rain to carry the day by half a length.

“I thought he might struggle from where he was drawn but Killian gave him a great ride. If you’re not up handy and on the fresh ground today you are going to struggle,” declared Fozzy Stack.

BOUNCE BACK

Quinns Red Rose, who had a valid excuse for her unplaced run at Ballinrobe last month, bounced back to form with an all-the-way success under Leigh Roche in the Mac Fuels General Supplies Fillies Maiden.

Michael O’Callaghan’s charge had previously reached the frame on her first three outings. With over a furlong to run, Quinns Red Rose (7/2) held a useful lead over the chasing pack and she lasted home by a neck to contain the whirlwind charge of Bright Eyed.

“She was second to Astronomer in Galway and he’s franked the form a lot since. Leigh said the ground wasn’t ideal but she got away with it. He got a few lengths out of them turning in,” remarked O’Callaghan. “I’m delighted to train a winner for the lads (Sapphire Bravo Syndicate) because a few of them came over from America just for this. She burst in Ballinrobe the last day.”

Tony Martin struck for the first time since the Galway Festival as Mr Everest (8/1) claimed the Behans Horseshoe Bar, Restaurant & Townhouse Accomodation over a mile and three-quarters.

The John Breslin-owned five-year-old was making just the eighth appearance of his career and was returning to the flat for the first time in 11 months but came here off a couple of decent efforts in maiden hurdles.

When the front-running Ocean Voyage gave way with over a furlong to run, Robbie Colgan produced his mount to strike the front and Mr Everest went on to defeat Dalton Highway by three-quarters of a length.

An excellent meeting for Joseph O’Brien continued into the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden where Arcturus (3/1) progressed from a respectable debut outing at Roscommon earlier in the month. The two-year-old son of Fast Company had work to do from midfield but Shane Crosse deftly threaded his way through on inner to produce his mount with a telling challenge.

Arcturus headed Refulgence Star in the closing stages and hit the line with half a length to spare over Sacchoandvanzetti, who had finished third to Japan the previous afternoon. The winner carries the colours of the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate.

ACTING STEWARDS

J.P. Barry, J. Powell, J. Moloney, J. O’Donoghue, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

BRIGHT EYED (D.K. Weld): This own-sister to several decent sorts stormed home to finish a close second in the maiden won by Quinns Red Rose. Compensation shouldn’t be long in coming her way.