RACHAEL Blackmore made the journey to Downpatrick for just one ride and she made it count by landing the opening two-and-a-quarter-mile maiden hurdle on Queen Jane before making her way back down to the Curragh to partner Echoes In Rain in the final race on that card.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained and Angus Potterton-owned Queen Jane did show up well on her racecourse debut when third in a Fairyhouse maiden won by Ha D’or in January and she came back to that form to win nicely. She improved from second to take control of this race after the last for a four lengths victory over the 91-rated front runner Will You Win.

“She won well and hopefully now she will have a good summer ahead of her,” reported the rider.

Willie Mullins also made his sole Downpatrick runner count as the Malcolm Denmark-owned and bred Get Me To The Park (11/8) landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race.

Jody Townend’s mount was cruising when she hit the front around a quarter of a mile from home but she was all out at the line to hold off the persistent effort of The Grey Dove by a head.

Jumping Susie, who was fourth in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper last time, filled the third spot her which would suggest that the first two home could be useful.

Short Journey for McBratney to see West score

COLIN McBratney made his mark at his local track when Journey West landed the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle over just short of two and three quarter miles.

The six-year-old was returned a well-backed 6/1 shot in first-time blinkers and he won nicely under Shane O’Callaghan. He didn’t need much encouragement to brush aside the leaders nearing the final flight en route to an eight-length triumph over Porky Rush. This was a first win in 11 starts for Journey West who was ruled out of another intended run at Wexford on Wednesday due to sore shins.

Stuart Crawford was responsible for a 33/1 surprise in the Tote-sponsored 80-109 rated handicap hurdle over two and a quarter miles where Kingfisher Lane and J.J. Slevin carried the day.

The closing stages of this race made for fascinating viewing as the lead changed hands several times on the run-in before Kingfisher Lane finished with a stout charge against the stands’ side rail for a neck success over Willyouwalkwithme. The victorious son of Court Cave hadn’t shown much lately but he did take second in the bumper on this card last year.

Elsewhere hunter chase kingpin David Christie notched up another success in that sphere courtesy of the Ray Nicholas-owned Handy Headon.

The 10-year-old son of Well Chosen won a maiden contest at Down Royal on the opening day of the new season and followed up in the Frank & Brian Fitzsimmons Memorial Hunters Chase. The Ben Harvey-ridden 6/4 shot was left nicely clear of the field when the favourite Er Dancer came down when pressing for the lead with four to jump.

The winner could afford to be eased down in the closing stages for a six-and-a-half-length success over Whisper In Court.

Flynn’s fine form continues with Na Caith Tobac

THE fine form of Paul Flynn’s string continued as Na Caith Tobac (7/1) added the beginners’ chase for horses rated 102 or less over hurdles to haul that also includes one success over timber and two on the flat.

Keith Donoghue took the mount on the Philip Carney-owned five-year-old who was always on the pace and then maintained a clear advantage from before two out to hold off Majavango by a length. The Elzaam gelding showed a good aptitude for this new discipline and could easily add to his haul over the coming months.

Elsewhere Mark Walsh looked to have delivered Follow The Crowd with a perfectly timed challenge when producing him to lead at the final fence in the 0-109 rated handicap chase over just short of three miles.

However, he could never quite shake off the Liam Lennon-trained and Thomas Reilly-ridden School Lane (7/2) who came back for more on the run in and edged ahead late on to score by a neck. The winner took 26 runs to make his mark on the track but has now won three of his last eight outings.