KYLECRUE landed the feature event at Sligo on Thursday for the second year running as his trainer John Ryan enjoyed a double on the card at the north-east venue.

The nine-year-old recorded his ninth career success in the Guinness Sligo Handicap Hurdle when making most of the running under Donagh Meyler. The 15/2 shot pulled away in good style on the run-in to record a four-length win in the two and a half mile contest.

“He’s as tough as nails and has been a great servant. He keeps pulling out,” said Ryan. “He doesn’t do a tap at home so I have to keep running him to keep him fit.

“He’s just a mark down from being a very good horse. He’s had some extraordinary runs over hurdles and was second to a horse of Gordon Elliott’s that went on to win a Grade 1. He’s probably better over hurdles than fences. He’s a smashing horse.

“He’ll go for the same race that he won at Listowel last year and we’ll freshen him up before that.”

BRACE

The Templemore trainer initiated his brace in the opening Sligo Maiden Hurdle with 7/4 favourite Aunt Eileen. Imelda O’Riordan’s four-year-old overcame market rival Balimore Buzz on the run-in to claim the two-mile contest by a length and three-quarters.

“She hated the ground and didn’t travel a yard. She’s probably the best I’ve ever had. She’s a real star – a special filly,” said Ryan.

“She’s very green and showed it as it’s only her second run. She quickened up well on ground she couldn’t walk in.

“She’s just a classy little filly. She has a very good pedigree. Her dam cost €350,000 and that’s still a record price for a filly.

“I won this last year with Jesmond Lodge, but she’s a better filly. She’ll have a bit of time off now and go novice hurdling in the winter.”

Her dam, Corbetstown Queen, is a half-sister to Fota Island and comes from the family of Luska Lad and Black Jack Ketchum.

There was also a double on the card for Gordon Elliott and he was pleased to see Desoto County get back to winning ways, under Jack Kennedy, in the Foley’s Bar & Off Licence Hurdle.

Get Out Of Jail made a bold bid from the front in the two-miler but was overhauled on the run-in by 6/4 shot Desoto County in the colours of Paul and Clare Rooney.

“He got his head in front and it might do him the world of good,” said Elliott. “He’ll probably go back jumping fences sooner rather than later. He’s won a couple of races now and it’s job done. There is a good handicap hurdle at Perth at the next meeting and he might have a rattle at that.”

Elliott completed his brace in the concluding mares’ bumper for lady riders, but not with his even-money favourite Barra Hooley. The market leader could only finish fourth behind stable-mate Pat’s Oscar (6/1), who got the better of Cant Wait inside the final furlong for a half-length win.

“She’s an honest mare. It wasn’t a great race and I fancied her. I thought she would run well on the ground,” said the trainer. “She’s hard to keep condition on and is light but that’s job done now as she’s a winner.

“It’s great for Jim Kinsella, who has a few horses with us. It’s nice to get a winner for him and it’s also nice for Lisa (O’Neill). She works every day in the yard and it’s great she got her chance as Nina would ride most of them.”

The most impressive winner on the card was undoubtedly Emma Beag, who turned the three-mile maiden hurdle into a procession.

Sean Flanagan’s mount cruised into the lead two from home and the 2/1 co-favourite was clear jumping the final flight. The Liz Doyle-trained mare extended her advantage on the run-in to record a 31-length success.

“I thought she might sink in the ground but her mother, Emma Jane, won a Grade 3 in bottomless ground and she absolutely loved it,” said Doyle.

“She looks like a winter mare and we’ll tip away with her during the winter. I’m delighted with that. She severed a vein and had a very bad overreach last time at Downpatrick. We’ll look for a handicap off a low weight.”

Karl Thornton already has a nice handicap lined-up for Duke Cass following his win in the two and a half mile Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle. Donagh Meyler was initiating his own double before going on to land the feature on Kylecrue.

The 2/1 joint favourite was always to the fore and kept on well on the run-in to win by four lengths.

“It wasn’t a great maiden hurdle but he loved the ground and he’ll be a grand horse for the winter,” said Thornton. “You wouldn’t think being by Duke Of Marmalade he’d want it that soft but he seems to love it.

“He’s a genuine type and will jump a fence in time. He’s a grand horse for a four-year-old and the allowances they get are a big help. He’s in at Ballinrobe on Monday and he might go there as it’s a €30,000 race, there are only seven entries and the top-rated is only 113.”

The Gerry Keane-trained Effernock Lad stuck to his task well to land the spoils in the Leo McMorrow Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Sligo. Mark Flanagan let the 11/2 shot hit the front after the third last and he kept on well in the closing to hold Who’s Cross by a length.

“He stuck at it well in fairness to him,” commented Flanagan on the way in.