ON the most sombre of evenings when all jockeys throughout the eight races sported red armbands in memory of Jack de Bromhead, it was the former Champion Hurdle third Darver Star who took the honours with a dominant success in the Deacy Gilligan Hurdle.

Gavin Cromwell’s 10-year-old lined up off a win at Kilbeggan last time but such was the strength of this field that Darver Star was allowed to go off at 15/2 under Keith Donoghue.

However, the SSP Number Twentytwo Syndicate-owned gelding produced a performance that was more in keeping with an odds-on chance.

After racing on the pace Darver Star then moved to the head of the field on the final circuit and had his rivals at full stretch from the second last. At the line, Darver Star had eight and a half lengths to spare over the 137-rated Happy Jacky.

The Shunter headed the market here at 5/4 but could only manage sixth and was reported to be slightly lame afterwards.

“That was a good performance and over a longer trip he’s able to get into his comfort zone, while a little bit of juice in the ground is no harm to him,” stated Cromwell.

“We might have to look beyond conditions races with him and I wouldn’t completely rule out fences for him, but at the moment we will stay hurdling.”

Paul Townend, who only returned to the saddle the previous Friday after sustaining a hand injury at the summer festival, got back amongst the winners courtesy of Hubrisko in the Kenny Developments Maiden Hurdle.

Encouraging

An encouraging second to Merlin Giant here in late July saw the Susannah Ricci-owned gelding returned the 4/9 favourite and he won at his leisure.

The Willie Mullins inmate moved to the front before the second last and sauntered clear to finish eight and a half lengths ahead of Royal Romeo.

“That couldn’t have gone any better. I got a lovely lead and he jumped great and he likes that nice ground. We didn’t go over quick and he quickened again up the hill which is a good sign,” remarked the champion jockey.

John McConnell looks to have unearthed quite a bargain in Notkeepinyagoing who justified strong support with plenty to spare in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race.

A £10,000 purchase after winning an Oldcastle point-to-point by 45 lengths, the Planetary Orbit Syndicate-owned five-year-old couldn’t have done any more on her racecourse debut.

After being backed from 22/1 into 13/2 on track, the Califet mare found an impressive change of gear for Ben Harvey entering the last quarter of a mile to put this race to bed. She quickly surged clear of a toiling field and eventually hit the line with 13 lengths to spare over Presenting J.

THE unstoppable form of the Peter Fahey yard continued as Sit Down Lucy (15/8) followed up her victory in an €80,000 hurdle here in late July by making a winning debut over fences in the beginners’ chase over an extended two and a quarter miles.

The Padraic Ryan-owned mare produced an accomplished round of chasing for Sean Flanagan and looked to be going best of the leading trio when they left the last two fences behind them.

The favourite, Hallowed Star, was far from done with at this point, but Sit Down Lucy always seemed to have him covered and she asserted in fine style on run for home to carry the day by eight lengths. This victory was Fahey’s fifth from his last six runners.

“Sean thinks she could be better over fences but she may go back over hurdles at Listowel for the big handicap hurdle (worth €100,000),” stated Fahey.

“When she’s in good form she likes running every few weeks and it worked out well coming here. It’s great for Padraic as he’s a local man.”

Sean Flanagan went on to make it a double as It Could Be You ended a near two-year winless spell in the 0-116 rated Kenny Developments Handicap Chase over an extended two and three-quarter miles.

The Rory Larkin-owned grey was nicely placed from some way out and was well equipped for the exacting climb to the line after the last where several horses still held chances.

The 10/1 chance got on top to defeat Hoke Colburn by two lengths. The winning trainer, also enjoying a good run, was looking towards a possible crack at next year’s Galway Blazers Handicap Chase.

More winners for Mullins

BILLY Lanigan and Danny Mullins successfully joined forces for the second time in seven days as Big Island picked up the 80-109 rated angloprinters.ie Handicap Hurdle over two miles.

The well-backed 6/1 shot won on the flat here last October and lined up with room for progress as this was just his fifth appearance over hurdles.

The son of Canford Cliffs was nicely placed throughout and from the second last always seemed to be in control. A strong-finishing effort saw Big Island reach the line five and a half lengths ahead of the favourite, Platinumcard.

The winner is owned by the Hogan’s Pub Coolrain Syndicate and looks like one who might be able to add to his tally in the coming weeks.

Another commanding winner came in the shape of Norman Lee’s Oskar High (20/1) who ran riot in the first division of the 80-95 rated handicap hurdle over an extended two and three-quarter miles.

Shane O’Callaghan was on board the sprightly 10-year-old who made the running and maintained a relentless tempo at all stages to come 14 lengths clear of Getaclan.

This was a fifth career success for the Addergoole More Partnership-owned winner.

O’Callaghan was picking up a chance ride as Oskar High was meant to be ridden by Robbie Geoghegan who suffered a breakdown on the way to the races.

Kieren Buckley maintained his good run of form in the second division of that 80-95 rated handicap hurdle as he triumphed aboard the John Morrison-owned and -trained Crimson Chief (13/2).

The 10-year-old got the better of the front-running Chinook after the last and went on to reach the line five lengths ahead of Sweet Will.