SAM Ewing got off to a quick-fire start at Downpatrick on Friday evening when he rode the winners of the first two races on the card.

Gordon Elliott’s Big Stage made all under Ewing to land the Download The New Tote App Maiden Hurdle.

The 10/11 favourite asserted on the run-in and swept home by six and a-half lengths for the Carthy, Shanahan, Bartlett and O’Leary owners’ group.

Assistant trainer Lisa O’Neill said: “He has been ultra consistent and he did very little wrong here the last day, but he deserved to get his day in the sun. He has improved with every run and he’ll make a lovely chaser in time. He has a great bit of size about him.

“There didn’t seem to be a whole pile of obvious pace, so Sam used his head and it paid dividends.”

Similar

It was a similar story for Golden Temple (18/1) and Ewing in the Frank And Brian Fitzsimons Memorial Handicap Hurdle as they enjoyed an all-the-way success.

With a tongue-tie and blinkers refitted after being pulled up at Clonmel, the Galileo Gold four-year-old was a different proposition and strolled home by 16 lengths for Noel Meade and the Spice Of Life Partnership.

Ewing said: “I’d say he enjoyed the track and the headgear helped as well. That was by far the best feel I’ve got off him.

“He’s a nice horse at home and probably the race didn’t run to suit in Tipperary, and the last day went soft in Clonmel.”

A WINNER of the Bishopscourt Cup at the Punchestown Festival, Private Ryan (7/1) was tacking much stiffer opposition in the the Dennison Commercials Hunters Chase, but coped well with the step up in trip and grade.

Trained by Sean Doyle for Henry Chamney, the son of Presenting was patiently ridden by Jamie Scallan and came through to lead on the run-in to defeat Gorthill by half a length.

Scallan said: “He stepped up a mile in trip today and we kind of dropped him in a little bit to see if he would get home. In fairness to him, all he actually did was stay in the end.

“I’m based with Sean full-time and more based point-to-pointing, but it is great to have a horse like this lad to come and ride on the track. I’ve had a great season point-to-pointing, I rode 21 winners. It was my best season to date.”

There wasn’t to be a fairytale ending for warrior Billaway who faded out of contention in his final race and was pulled up after the last by Patrick Mullins.

One better

The Dennison JCB Maiden Hunters Chase was won by Big Girl Betty (10/3) who went one better than in the corresponding contest last year.

Owned by Leo Matheson, the daughter of Getaway led before the final fence and stayed on well under Johnny Barry to account for Grageen by three and three-quarter lengths.

Trainer Mark McNiff said: “She was to go to Cork and here, and Cork was heavy and this was abandoned. Then the Down Royal race was a stronger race than this and she needed the run. She came on nicely for it.”

PHILIP Rothwell was effusive in his praise of Conor Owens who drove That’s About Right home in the Down Royal Corporation Of Horse Breeders Opportunity Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles and five furlongs.

The 9/2 shot was worked to the front early on the run-in from Paddy Elvis and saw him off by half a length.

Rothwell said afterwards: “From limited opportunities, six winners ridden. For any 7lb claimer, that is a huge achievement. For a fella that sat up on a horse two and a half years ago, it is an incredible achievement.

“The syndicate that have him (Namtab Syndicate) are local guys from home that work in Tinahely, our local village. They are fabulous people and great to have a first winner for the syndicate, and hopefully there will be many more.”

Another for Cromwell

Dgalwaygallivantor (11/2) was another winner for the in-form duo of Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue in the DennPart Beginners Chase.

A winner over hurdles at Cork in November and having his second start over the larger obstacles, the Dansant gelding came through to lead two out and a super leap at the last propelled him home by six lengths.

Donoghue said of the Gallivantors Syndicate-owned five-year-old: “He (Erigmoor) was getting an easy enough lead and I was going as hard as I wanted to. I came to the third last and he just came onto the bridle and I was actually there too soon then.”

Dominated

Forcing tactics worked a treat on 100/1 Pepperpots who dominated her rivals in the Dennison Point-To-Point INH Flat Race.

She had the race won when she extended her advantage approaching the final furlong and, although her lead was reduced by Mrs Mc Go in the closing stages, she was still two and a quarter-lengths clear at the line.

Trainer/jockey/breeder Barry John Walsh said: “She works real well at home. We ran her in a few point-to-points and she just wasn’t getting the three miles.

“We said we would try the bumper route on a bit of better ground. We ran her in Tipperary in a mares’ point-to-point bumper and she finished seventh.

“I’d say she needed the run from a point-to-point field to a bumper. Here, let her on and let her fill herself, everything downhill and just hope for the best.”

She delivered in the colours of his father John Walsh.