DOWNTHECELLAR (7/2) continued his love affair with Tramore, as he took the August Festival opener, the Three Ireland Rated Novice Chase.

Recording his fourth win in-a-row and his third straight success at Tramore, the Edward O’Grady trained seven-year-old was settled in second by Paul Townend.

He improved to challenge the front-running Alice Avril (8/11 favourite) on the approach to two out, getting to the front before the last and keeping on well from there to score by a length and a half.

“It probably wasn’t a clever race to run him in, strictly speaking,” O’Grady, who trains the winner for Christine Plumby, reflected. “I just thought he jumps so well that he might put the favourite under pressure with her being just a four-year-old, and that’s what happened. I think his experience rather than his ability showed today.”

Improved Evans

Quirt Evans was another to follow-up on a recent course success, as he justified plenty of market support in the O’Neill’s Bar Rated Novice Hurdle.

Sent off the 13/8 favourite (from 3s early), the David O’Brien trained six-year-old was settled behind the leaders by Jack Foley, improving to dispute the lead after four out.

He got to the front on the approach to the second last and was ridden between the final two flights, keeping on well on the run-in to score by a length and a half in the colours of owner Aidan Fogarty.

“He is improving away the whole time,” O’Brien, who trains just across the border in Piltown, stated. “I will probably find something at Listowel for him. I’ll up him in grade and see if he can make it up another step.

“Jack said when he was in front that he was still idling. I think there is more improvement in him.”

Cromwell and O’Keeffe in double form

BRIDES Hill (8/13 favourite) was the first part of a double for Darragh O’Keeffe and Gavin Cromwell, as she deservedly made the breakthrough in the Victoria House Maiden Hurdle.

Second on two of her last three starts, the daughter of Dylan Thomas was disputing the lead when running wide on the bend approaching two out.

She continued to hang left between the final two flights, but got to the front after the last and kept on well from there to prevail by a length and a quarter for owner John Leigh.

“She did it the hard way. She was unlucky in Ballinrobe and probably should have won there,” Feidhlim Cunningham, Cromwell’s assistant, commented.

“She might go back to Ballinrobe now (on August 23rd) for a decent pot that is for four-year-olds, or she could get in at the bottom of the weights for the Lartigue at Listowel.”

Bring The Bacon completed the Cromwell/O’Keeffe brace as he landed a gamble in the Hollywoodbets Handicap Hurdle.

Previously trained in Britain and making his debut for owner/trainer Cromwell, the son of Sulamani went off the 11/8 favourite from early shows of 7/1.

Settled behind the leaders, he gradually closed on the front-running Zamond from four out and hit the front before the second last.

The six-year-old quickly put the race to bed after that flight and went on to register an easy five-length win.

“That was his first start for us since coming from Tom Gretton’s and he is actually a half-brother to Gentlemansgame (twice placed in Grade 1 company),” Cunningham disclosed.

“He came over here with a low rating and since we got him, we thought he was a bit better than the rating.

“He is in here again tomorrow and he might run again.”

Craic Eile ran out a good winner of the feature Flynn Hotels Handicap Hurdle, and is another likely to be turned out again quickly.

Good Craic

A winner at the Graun Hill circuit in June, the Ken Budds- trained bay was third on his most recent start and was sent off at 6/1 for this two-mile contest. The sole four-year-old in the line-up, he was settled behind the leaders on the outer, coming with his challenge at the second last.

Pushed along to lead before the final flight, he kept on well from there, coming home two and a half lengths to the good under Shane Fitzgerald for the Connery Family Syndicate.

Budds, who is based near Tallow in west Waterford, said: “He is improving all the time. He loves it here and jumped great. He is in again on Saturday on the level and if he comes out of this okay, he will be back!”

More local success in Waterford

JOHN Queally was another local trainer on the mark, with his Pat Coyne a deserving winner of the Pat & Winifred Woodbyrne Memorial Beginners Chase.

Placed on his four previous starts, the grey gelding was sent off a well-backed 13/8 favourite (5s in early shows) in the colours of owner John Nicholson.

Having raced mainly in fifth under Hugh Morgan, the son of Fairly Ransom was pushed along and improved into second from three out.

He gained a narrow lead at the next and maintained that advantage all the way to the line, seeing off the persistent challenge of Bloodstone by a neck.

“It’s lovely to train a winner in these colours, they are famous colours and have been around a long time. It’s an honour really,” Queally remarked.

“He jumps and stays and is a summer horse. He might go to Killarney now next week. He will go back over hurdles somewhere as he has a nice mark over them.”

It was a one-two-three for Waterford trainers in the concluding FormaHoof (Ladies) Maiden, with Line Out (6/1) taking this two-mile contest for John Kiely.

Maxine O’Sullivan excelled in the saddle aboard the nine-year-old gelding. Having tracked the leaders, the Co Cork pilot kept her mount tight to the inside rail on the turn into the straight and they soon swept through to lead.

Owned by the Lillingston Family, the bay victor was ridden over a furlong from home and kept on well in the closing stages to prevail by one and three-quarter lengths.

“I’m delighted, although I beat a neighbour. Dermot (O’Brien) used to work for me and his mare (Molly Wedger) was second,” Kiely revealed.

“It’s great to have a winner in Tramore, I’m coming here a long time. He might go for a hurdle now at Killarney.”