DARRAGH O’Keeffe was the jockey to follow at Thurles on Thursday afternoon, where the Cork man rode a treble. The long absent Turbo initiated the three-timer, when defying a 704-day layoff to win the www.thurlesraces.ie Handicap Chase for owner/trainer Jimmy Finn.

Sent off 16/1, the gelding led at the final fence, before going on to win by three and a half lengths.

Finn commented: “I was hoping and thought he’d run well, but thought the distance - especially around here - might be short for him. He got his ground today, as he never really got ground like that.

“He had a little fracture in a hind leg, which held him up for a while, but is lightly raced so we brought him back. We’ll see how he comes out of this, but there’s a race for him in Fairyhouse soon. We have a few horses coming along for the track at home.”

The brace

Grooveykindoflove brought up a double for O’Keeffe, when justifying 1/1 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the Mrs Paul Shanahan-owned mare kept on well after the last to win by eight and a half lengths.

The winning jockey said: “It was ideal for another horse to make the running for her and I felt in Roscommon, we weren’t going quick and that she wasn’t the most natural of front runners. Today, she jumped really well and, when the others came to her, she picked up well to the line.

“It is easy to say now that the cheekpieces helped, but they did and having something to aim at helped. It is good to get her head in front and hopefully can progress on from it. I would be keeping her up in trip rather than back, as she seemed to enjoy it today.”

Completed

O’Keeffe’s three-timer was completed after the well-backed 9/4 favourite Romella landed the Horse & Jockey Handicap Hurdle for trainer Brendan Walsh. Owned by Anthony Byrne, the 10-year-old led early on the run-in, before going clear to win by four lengths.

Walsh reported: “She has been running well, but during the summer, when the ground had been well-watered, she just stopped - she wants top of the ground.

“She had been in to run at every abandoned meeting here and was then due to be left off, but instead we went to Limerick on Tuesday, where they watered and it rained.

“It turned into tacky ground, but Riche Deegan (jockey) didn’t murder her once she was beaten. I said to the owner that we’d bring her today and whatever happens, happens. She is in here again next Thursday and will run if she is okay.”

DRUMGILL caused something of an upset in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase, when beating 4/9 favourite Jigoro by six and a half lengths.

The 12/1 chance, ridden by Daniel King, was both owned and trained by John Ryan, who later reported: “He went disappointing over hurdles, but probably got sick of it. Philip Donovan rode him the last day and wasn’t too hard on him and we freshened him up since.

“He is a brilliant jumper, loved that good ground and we thought he’d run okay. He is related to Constitution Hill and is a smashing horse.”

Gordon Elliott’s Minella Sixo had to work hard under Jack Kennedy in order to justify 1/3 favouritism in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle. The Sierra Pacific and Pioneer Racing-owned gelding headed Mister Pink on the run-in to win by half a length.

Elliott said: “He stays galloping and, even in Cheltenham the last day, he was off it with a mile to go, but stayed going. He is an honest horse, who will win loads of races.

“He mightn’t run on winter heavy ground, but there could be a race back at Cheltenham for him in December. There are a couple of lads from America involved (with Pioneer Racing), this is their second horse so they’re having some luck, which is great.”

WARM In Gorey continued the fine form of trainer Philip Rothwell and jockey Tiernan Power Roche, when winning the ThurlesRaces.ie Handicap Hurdle. Sent off 9/2, the Carrigroe Gaels Syndicate-owned gelding led approaching the last, keeping on well to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

Winning rider Tiernan Power Roche said: “Philip told me to take my time and come with a late run, as we rode him cold the last day at Punchestown and he seems to love passing horses. He seemed to lose his confidence over fences, but jumped very well today.

“Philip has been absolutely brilliant to me since I’ve turned professional. He said he’d support me and told me he’d give me rides and he has really backed me up, so I can’t thank him enough.”

Taking authority

Willie and Patrick Mullins won the concluding Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle, with rules debutant Jarrive De Mee. The former point-to-point winner made all to justify 1/4 favouritism in the colours of the winning jockey.

The latter commented on the four-and-a-half-length winner: “He is a very nice horse, is by Authorized and out of a Great Pretender mare. He won a point-to-point and has now won a maiden hurdle easily. He is for sale to stay in the yard and will eventually jump a fence.

“Meetingofthewaters (Paddy Power Chase winner) started off in my colours last year and I like this horse, I love those Authorized horses, but they are hard to get.”