EMMET Mullins and Donagh Meyler recorded a short-price double at Ballinrobe with the second leg coming in the most valuable contest of the evening, the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle, courtesy of 11/10 favourite Sea Music.

Third in a bumper at the Galway Festival on stable debut, the Sea Moon gelding made most of the running to score readily by 12 lengths from Our Girl.

Mullins said of Mrs Antoinette Mee’s winner: “It was a very taking performance, he looked like he stepped up from his first experience in Galway.

“It might look like we left a bumper behind now, but it was a great opportunity here with this auction race, such good prize money and the EBF bonus as well. He was running for a lot of money here tonight and it’s a lot easier for me to sell these horses with these bonuses on offer.

Decent engine

“He wants a trip and decent ground and there’s definitely an engine there. He needs more experience but he won’t be a horse for winter ground.”

The Grand National-winning trainer’s first winner had been well-backed 2/1 favourite Our Boy Wes in the J.J. Burke Peugeot 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.

On his first start over flights, the Postponed gelding led on the approach to the last and was ridden out by Meyler to beat Annie Agnew by three lengths.

Mullins, who owns the winner in partnership with Paul Byrne, remarked: “He took his time to get his confidence there with his jumping, but he got into a rhythm late on.

“He appreciates a bit of nicer ground, the ground went against him in Galway, and he showed his liking for it there today.

“He stays well, so a trip and a bit of nice ground and he should collect a few more races. He’ll mix it and he’ll be a fun horse, a good dual-purpose horse.”

Straight match

The John & Pat Rochford Memorial Maiden Hurdle looked a straight match on paper between 8/11 favourite Sherodan, runner-up in a listed novice contest at Galway, and the Wille Mullins-trained Four Clean Aces.

The pair went on from flagfall and Sherodan, in front throughout, was left clear when Four Clean Aces fell three out. Sean Flanagan’s mount was untroubled from that point and came home 11 lengths in front of outsider The Vegas Kid.

Winning trainer Peter Fahey said of owner Peter McCarthy’s homebred son of Hillstar: “We decided there was no point in trying to switch him off in this race today because he can be a little bit keen-going, so Sean tipped away and kept it simple.

“It was unfortunate to see Willie’s mare fall but she got up and galloped away the finest. He’ll go to Listowel for a valuable handicap hurdle and he might have a run on the Flat beforehand, we’ve a bit of time until Listowel and we’ll see how things are.

View finds way to win

TWELVE-year-old A Great View (9/2) appreciated the test of stamina of the Burleigh Accountancy Handicap Hurdle to gain a sixth career win in the hands of Mark Walsh.

Never far from the pace, the Kayf Tara gelding led before three out and saw out the trip well to beat Mister Beeton by two and a half lengths.

“This horse has been very good to me. He’s given me two Punchestown Festival winners and he’s brought me to Cheltenham three or four times. He’s been rock-solid and he’s a great horse to have in the yard,” trainer Denis Cullen enthused.“I’m very lucky and grateful to have him and a big thanks to Frank (Berry) and J.P. (McManus) for supporting me with him. He didn’t enjoy Galway because you’re on the turn the whole time there and he prefers a bit of room and space to gallop. The longer trip this evening suited him well.

Well-in under a mandatory penalty after a facile win at Wexford three days earlier, Sarah Beara was a warm order for the C.J. Sheeran Ltd Handicap Hurdle but was unable to find a way past No Thanks (8/1) on the run-in.

Keith Donoghue’s mount had been prominent throughout and kept on well to foil the favourite by two and three quarter lengths.

Matt Smith trains the winner for Rory Doyle and said: “He got a fall last year in Navan and cracked a bone in his knee. He was fine after it but just needed a bit of time off.

“He ran twice at Galway and ran a good race the second day. The ground just didn’t suit a few of mine at Galway, a lot of mine want decent ground so that caught out some of them. It’s nice to get back amongst the winners with this lad and Keith gave him a great ride.”

SPANISH John sprang a 22/1 surprise in the Broderick’s Electric Handicap Hurdle, coming from off the pace under Michael O’Sullivan to beat Thefaithfulindian by three and a quarter lengths.

“I didn’t expect it,” O’Sullivan said of the Pat Fahy-trained winner who is owned by the Ballinaboley Plant Hire Syndicate. I rode him up the ‘Vic’ in a bit of work and he was still quite raw. I didn’t want to be hitting anywhere near the front until after the last because he has a look at everything.”

Off a career high mark of 104, Presenting Lad (9/2) recorded his second win of the summer when claiming the Cummins Homevalue Hardware Handicap Hurdle under Daniel King.

Successful at Roscommon last month, the Mark McNiff-trained winner led on the run-in to beat Listentillitellyea by a length and three quarters in the colours of the Presenting The Lads Syndicate.

“He only ran last week in Cork but Mark had him spot on and he filled me with confidence going out there,” King said. “I got a dream run into it and got a lovely lead down to the last. I was in a little tight to it but, once I gathered him up again, he galloped all the way to the line.”