CO Derry trainer Noel Kelly doubled up at a damp Sligo where his promising four-year-old High Court Cave was a decisive winner of the bumper.
Oran McGill settled the 2/1 shot behind the leaders in the two-mile-two contest before asking him to hit the front on the home bend.
The point-to-point winner soon asserted and galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a convincing four-and-a-half length win over At The Wings.
Kelly said: “This is a smart horse and a clever horse. He was very unlucky at Galway where he clipped heels and he may just have needed the run a wee bit there.
“He’s going to the field now and we’ll have a think about what to do with him.
“His owner Victor McCrea is a cattle dealer and the last three horses that he’s picked out himself at the sales, including this one, have all won for him.”
On the mark
Kelly had also been on the mark earlier when third reserve That’s Me Finished (8/1) swooped on the run-in to land the spoils in the McDermott Farm Machinery Handicap Hurdle.
Jody McGarvey got a good late tune from the Presenting gelding, owned by the What It’s All About Syndicate, who got up to record a two-and-three-quarter length success over Glenmorefiftyfour
Kelly said: “Jody said he never thought he was going to get there until after the last. I’d say they probably went pretty fast out in front and stopped. We weren’t sure about the soft ground but obviously he handled it, and he’s a horse that needs two mile-six plus.”
Compensation
Gers Gigi (1/3 favourite) gained compensation in the mares’ maiden hurdle under Jack Kennedy.
The Gordon Elliott-trained mare, owned by John F Doyle and Dee L’Estrange, had been narrowly denied on her hurdling debut at Wexford where she originally got the result in the stewards’ room, having received a slight bump in the closing stages, only to lose the race again on appeal.
The daughter of Flemensfirth hit the front going to the second last and was ridden out to beat Love Like This by four and a quarter lengths.
Kennedy said: “She was a lot more professional in front today. I took it up plenty soon but we hadn’t gone quick and she stays, so I wanted to get going on her. She can step back up in trip and hopefully she’ll improve away.”
HIGH Honour (18/1) held the late charge of Mephisto to strike in the Aidan Moffitt Memorial Handicap Hurdle for jockey John Shinnick.
Owned and trained by Donal Kinsella, the Frankel gelding jumped to the front over the final flight and held fast-finishing Mephisto by a neck.
Shinnick said: “He ran well at Roscommon the last day and just got stuck in behind a lot of traffic
“Donal gave me my first winner at Navan when I was an apprentice on the flat with Ger Lyons, so I’m delighted to get another one for him. That’s my second winner since losing my 7lb claim and hopefully I’ll keep the ball rolling towards the winter.”
My Great Mate, trained by Wille Mullins for the Temple Bloodstock Syndicate, was a facile winner of the Hankook Pearse Rd Tyres Maiden Hurdle.
Paul Townend sent the 1/11 favourite to the front with a circuit to run and the Jukebox Jury gelding cantered to a 31-length success over Midleton Rare
A dual bumper winner, My Great Mate was placed on his first two outings over timber including when third at the Galway Festival.
Townend said: “He was entitled to do that. It was straightforward, he backed up his run at Galway and jumped brilliant.
“He’d won on similar ground and we thought he’d handle these soft conditions.”
MORRICONE (9/4 favourite) proved very game as he edged a good battle with Luimneach in the Francie ‘Banger’ Burns Handicap Hurdle.
Liam Quinlan’s mount was narrowly headed by the strong-travelling Luimneach over the final flight but found a bit more late on to secure a half-length success.
Trainer Ray Hackett said of the Ballyvara Racing Syndicate’s seven-year-old: “He’s very game and battled back well. He missed his prep for Galway when the ground was too quick at Killarney, but he still ran a solid race there.
“We might give him a short break and then head to Listowel. The lads had a couple of horses with me before that were so moderate, they wouldn’t even bring in the cows for you, so they’re having great fun with this lad.
“He was inclined to strike into himself at his front shoulders and a physiotherapist recommended that we use elbow boots which are used on trotters in France. We had to get permission to use them and they seem to have done the job.”
Lee runner shocks
Shuil Na Tra sprang a 25/1 shock for Norman Lee in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle when left in the lead by the exit of stablemate But What About Me at the last.
The Malinas gelding was driven along to dispute at the final flight by jockey Philip Donovan, where he was left with the advantage.
The six-year-old kept on strongly to post an eight-length success over Broken Ice.
Donovan said: “I rode him in a maiden hurdle in the spring and thought he was a nice type of horse that was just a little bit backwards, mentally.
“Fair play to Norman, he’s brought him back from two well-below standard runs and had him right here.
“He told me to ride him cold and do my best. The owner Robert Hodgins is a next-door neighbour of mine and is a really good friend of my Dad’s. These colours have been carried to victory by some good horses and I’m delighted to ride a winner for him.”