PAIDI’S Passion led her rivals a merry dance as she claimed the Tote Connacht National at Roscommon on her return to action on Monday.

The Ocovango mare was also making her first start for trainer Paul Flynn when going to post a well-backed 9/1 shot in the three-mile-one contest.

The pair were in front from the first fence and had their rivals at work turning for home. A fine leap at the last sealed matters as she stayed on strongly for a five length win over Hascoeur Clermont.

National glory

Another National is now on the agenda with Flynn saying after the victory: “It’s brilliant to win with her and I think she’ll improve again. She’ll be going for the Midlands National now.

“If she got beat tonight I was probably going to go for the Galway Blazers but I think she should get into the Kilbeggan race now.

“I actually trained her mother years ago, Benefitthewest, so it’s great to get one of her progeny. Gerry and Sue (Duke, owners) have been good to me, they are great local people as well.”

Dreaming big

John Nallen is dreaming that Minella Hollow could follow in the footsteps of A Dream To Share after his Beat Hollow gelding made it two from two in the same winners’ bumper won by the Cheltenham hero two years ago.

The 10/3 shot lead over two furlongs from home under Johnny Barry, and soon asserted to an impressive six-length win over Churchfield Sunset. Having failed to attract a buyer after his debut win at Ballinrobe, Nallen could hold on to the exciting four-year-old.

“He’s a nice horse. I don’t know what way he’ll go now, the horse that won this bumper a couple of years ago went on to do a big thing. We’ll dream too!” said the Clonmel handler.

“We’ve always thought a good lot of him and he’s by a lucky sire. Nobody wanted him after the last day. It might be harder to buy him now! I’d imagine we’ll give him a bit of a break. Maybe Seanie (Bowen) could ride him in the big one if we go that way next spring. We can dream.”

ANOTHER horse to make it two from two on the card was the Noel Meade-trained Golden Temple in the Ivan Connaughton Rated Novice Hurdle. The Galileo Gold gelding made all in the two-and-a-half mile contest to follow up on his success on his hurdling debut at Down Royal last month.

Liam McKenna’s mount was a bit untidy at the final two flights but the 5/1 shot had eight and a half lengths to spare over Going Live.

Meade said: “He jumps well, likes the fast ground, and I thought around here on the sharper track there was no point hanging around and waiting for them. He’s bred to go about six or seven furlongs so it just shows you. I’d say he’ll win on the flat as well.”

Front-running

Front-running proved a popular tactic on the day and Je T’ai Porte was another that repelled her rivals in the Castlerea Novice Chase. Gavin Cromwell’s charge saw off the challenge of Horantzau from the last to record a three-quarters of a length win in the two-miler. Shane Fitzgerald, who rode the 11/2 winner, said: “She’s actually a very easy ride off the front, I wasn’t taken on. She’s absolutely super to jump. She toughed it out, she’s a very tough mare and stayed good and honest to the line.”

Birthday celebrations

Owner Jim Guilfoyle had plenty to cheer about after the first division of the Shanagher Hearing Handicap Hurdle when Baltinglass Hill ran out an impressive winner. Paddy O’Hanlon led two out on the Cable Bay gelding and the 7/1 shot soon asserted to score by eight lengths.

Trainer Philip Rothwell revealed afterwards: “I was hoping to have a runner or two for Jim this week as it’s his 70th birthday and he’s a huge supporter of the yard. He has two or three horses in training all the time and is an amazing loyal supporter, so I’m delighted we’ve made this work.”

IN the second division, Dark Image bagged her second racecourse success when coming with a late charge to land the spoils. The Eoin McCarthy-trained mare was produced to lead on the run-in and despite drifting left in the closing stages, under Gary Noonan, the 12/1 shot had enough up her sleeve to beat Steps In The Sand by three-quarters of a length.

“She’s a lovely filly and I’m delighted for Sean (Maguire, owner),” said McCarthy. “She’s won a bumper and a hurdle and I’d imagine she’ll make a lovely broodmare.”

Dylan Kidd recorded his first winner over hurdles when the John McConnell-trained West Away claimed the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle in fine style. The 9/2 shot, owned by the Rockview Racing Syndicate, led going to the last to record a four-and-a-quarter length success over Champella.

“We thought he would have been very close last time (at Punchestown) if he had winged the last,” said McConnell. He’s improving all the time and loves this good ground.”

Better ground also seemed to make a big difference to Lord Maher as he made a successful start under rules in the four-year-old maiden hurdle. Sam Curling’s charge had failed to complete in two point-to-points but it was a different story for the 16/1 shot on his racecourse bow.

Liam Quinlan led three out on the Ocovango gelding and he kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-quarter length win over Tyson. Quinlan said: “Sam fancied him coming here today. He said the nicer ground should suit him and to make plenty of use of him. He ended up doing it well in the end. He’ll be a nice horse for the summer.”