WITH Paul Townend on duty at Fairyhouse, Sean O’Keeffe stepped in to ride a double for Willie Mullins at Cork on Easter Sunday.

Former dual Cheltenham victor Sir Gerhard returned to winning ways when easily landing the Bar One Racing Hurdle for owners Cheveley Park Stud. Sent off the 1/5 favourite, the nine-year-old prevailed by an easy nine lengths after closest pursuer Maidenstreetprince fell two out.

O’Keeffe later reported: “He retains plenty of ability, is a very good horse and it was a nice race for him, dropping back in trip, today. He made a mistake down the back straight but jumped well and has his own way of doing it.

“The Stayers’ Hurdle trip stretches him a bit, and two miles in that grade was no problem. I have ridden him plenty at home and he always works well enough so it is nice to get another win into him.”

Mullins and O’Keeffe doubled up when Asterion Forlonge (1/4 favourite) went clear two out to easily beat sole rival Lucid Dreams by 14 lengths in the featured Grade 3 Bar One Racing Chase.

“Asterion Forlonge always likes to jump right, that’s just his way of doing it but overall, he jumped well,” O’Keeffe said of the Marie Donnelly-owned winner.

“We went a nice gallop, didn’t hang around and it is nice to get another win with him.

“He is a high class horse and was bang there in those top Grade 1 chases so the ability is there. He has been around a long time, he has been a right horse and they (himself and Sir Gerhard) are two top horses so it is great to get the opportunity to ride them.”

PHILIP Byrnes was another jockey to ride a double; the first coming for his father, Charles, aboard Summer Tide in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.

Sent off an 18/1 outsider, the Mrs Patricia McCarthy-owned gelding jumped exceptionally well to score by a length and three quarters from Now Is The Hour.

Byrnes snr said: “It was a bit of a surprise as I didn’t think he was up to that as there were a few fair horses in it but I’m delighted for the young fella after getting a fall in the previous race.

“He had a good run behind Desertmore House in a beginners’ chase last year at Kilbeggan and the (heavy) ground made up for today’s lesser distance. We were struggling to win a race so I’m delighted to win. A win is a win and his mark over hurdles might now be more favourable after that.”

Horses for courses

He’s Home Again brought up the double for rider Byrnes when successful in the Mallow Commercials CVRT Test Centre Handicap Hurdle.

Carrying the colours of owner/trainer Edward Cawley, the 6/1 chance led two out before staying on well to win by two and a quarter lengths from Rochestown.

Cawley later reported: “He had his best run here in a maiden hurdle when I didn’t fancy him at all but ran well in it so maybe it is horses-for-courses, on a flat track. He was very disappointing at Leopardstown but it was very heavy ground and it’s not as bad here.”

Lep Around landed a tidy gamble for owners the Lep Around Syndicate when winning the O’Flynn Motors Mallow Mares Maiden Hurdle by three and three quarter lengths.

Good and game

Available at 11/1 the previous evening, the Marie Harding-trained mare was returned 11/4. Winning jockey John Shinnick said: “She had a good look going down over the first few and pricked her ears at them which wouldn’t be like her and I wasn’t ready for it.

“She also hung out left and I would be much happier on a left-handed track but when it came to a push and shove, she was good and game at the end. I was keen for it not to turn into a sprint and thankfully it worked out.”

LUCKY Zebo bounced back from a poor run at Leopardstown over Christmas to take the Listed Bar One Racing Easter Handicap Hurdle for Henry de Bromhead and Mike O’Connor.

The Jamie Lawson Maher-owned 10/1 chance quickened up well from two out before going on to win by two and a half lengths from the Padraig Roche-trained Shadow Rider. O’Connor said: “He is a lovely horse and, bar the last day at Leopardstown, is consistent.

“It was a step up in grade today but he seemed to do it well and has a nice attitude. You could put a line through his Leopardstown run as he doesn’t really stay all that well but is good at this intermediate distance. He has a great attitude, his jumping is really good and is a straightforward horse.”

Sent off 4/6 favourite, Tranquil Sea won the opening Dermot Casey Tree Care Maiden Hurdle for Paul Nolan and Sean Flanagan.

Despite a less than fluent round of jumping, the four-year-old showed great determination to battle back in the run-in to prevail by a length from Firebrand.

Assistant trainer James Nolan said: “For a short priced favourite maybe you’d expect him to do it better than that but he was careful over his hurdles. He has been careful in his early races but has warmed to things and obviously his last few runs were better.

“Sean said he had plenty of horse under him going to the line though and it is nice for the owners Anne and Jim Coffey and Susan (Spence), who are brilliant supporters of ours. We have had a frustrating year for them but it is nice to get one on the board.”

Nowwhatdoyouthink made a winning stable debut for trainer Ray Hackett when taking the concluding Woodlands House Hotel Adare(Pro/Am) INH Flat Race under Joey Dunne.

Sent off at 9/2, the gelding, who also carried the colours of the winning trainer, stayed on strongly to beat Getamotive by three-and-a-quarter lengths. Hackett later said: “He is still a big baby and if he had a lead from longer would have been better. It wouldn’t make sense to jump hurdles now so he’ll either go to Punchestown for a winners’ bumper or go out to grass.”