THE Prix de l’Abbaye hero A Case Of You made a pleasing return to the fray in the six-furlong conditions race to set himself up for a return to the big time over the coming weeks.

The Adrian McGuinness-trained four-year-old looked to hold all the aces when chief rival Logo Hunter was a late withdrawal on veterinary advice.

After being sent off at 4/11, the Gary Devlin-owned colt cruised through the race for Ronan Whelan and he took over the lead with well over a furlong to run. The race was as good as over and A Case Of You hit the line with three and a half lengths to spare.

“We were keen to get a prep run into him before we head on our travels,” remarked the trainer’s assistant Stephen Thorne. “The plan is the Group 3 on Super Saturday in Meydan next month and then, all being well, we’ll end up in the Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night. Our apprentice Cian MacRedmond rides him every day. He works very hard and has prepared the horse beautifully again.”

Buzzing winner

The Tom Dowling-trained Mullacash Buzz, who sprang a 66/1 shock here a few months ago, returned to form to bag another success in the first division of the seven-furlong apprentice handicap.

Jack Cleary was on board this son of War Command who dictated a tempo to suit himself and had his field at full stretch from early in the straight. At the line the Martin Flinter-owned gelding had two and a quarter lengths to spare.

Leanne Breen pulled off quite a gamble in the second division of that race as Woodrow obliged after being backed from 20/1 into 6/1 in the minutes before the off. This Patrick Gallagher-owned gelding posted a series of moderate efforts in the closing months of 2021 but here and Scott McCullagh’s mount duly got home by half a length from Maccliff.

Interestingly, the stewards took the decision to refer their enquiry into the winner’s improvement in form on to the IHRB Referrals Committee.

LEADING jockey Billy Lee enjoyed a good evening as he notched up a double which he completed on Henry de Bromhead’s Catena Zapata (7/1) in the mile handicap.

A former course-and-distance winner as a juvenile, this OTI Racing-owned gelding was making his first appearance since contesting the Ruby Stakes at Killarney in August.

In a steadily run affair, the son of Vadamos had plenty to do from midfield entering the last couple of furlongs but he picked up smartly for Lee to nail Chavajod in the final yards for a neck success.

Annecherie returns

After looking a progressive type here late last year, Annecherie made a very pleasing return to action to land the two-mile handicap for Sheila Lavery and Billy Lee.

Off just a 4lb higher mark than when winning over this trip in late November, the daughter of Yeats was travelling smoothly when striking the front around two furlongs from home.

Her fellow 100/30 co favourite Jake Peter closed in late on but Annecherie prevailed by half a length and could easily add to her tally given that the front pair here finished some six and a half lengths clear of the others.

The winning four-year-old is owned by the Llewelyn Runeckles partnership.

Comer’s Paradise

A splendid winter season for Luke Comer continued in the 45-70 rated mile-and-a-half handicap where Bring Us Paradise (20/1) moved the owner/trainer on the eight-winner mark for the campaign.

This six-year-old was searching for his first win in over two years as he made his first since October and he was returning to this track for the first time since being beaten a head here last March.

Chris Hayes’s mount was nicely placed in second turning for home and took charge over the last furlong to defeat the 33/1 front-runner Never Back Down by two and a quarter lengths. The winner was having his first try at this trip.

Jezebel Queen comes out on top

ON a decidedly mixed evening for favourite backers, the 5/6 favourite Singsong Lady lost the Racing TV-sponsored three-year-old mile conditions race in the stewards’ room. Initially the recent course winner, Singsong Lady got home by a nose from the newcomer Jezebel Queen (7/2) after the pair exchanged the lead several times in the straight before crossing the line almost as one.

Subsequent viewings of the race revealed that Singsong Lady came off the rail and edged right into Jezebel Queen in the closing stages. The margin of victory being as tight as it was meant that a change in the judge’s placings looked a distinct possibility and the race was awarded to the Ger Lyons-trained and Mark Enright-ridden winner for Newtown Anner Stud.

Flourishing Razdan

There was further woe for odds-on punters in the older horses’ maiden over a mile and a half as the 4/9 Elzaamsan was mugged late on by Razdan (7/1) who was giving Chris Timmons his second success as a trainer.

Over the last furlong and a half, the outcome looked to concern just the favourite and Don’t Be Angry, but the 75-rated Razdan was produced with a tremendous late flourish by Gary Halpin and he swept to the front in the final yards.

The Royal Racing Club-owned gelding certainly wasn’t winning out of turn having amassed eight top-four finishes in his first 13 races.