AFTER several creditable placed efforts in valuable handicaps, the 7/2 favourite Buddy One was a deserving winner of the featured W.B. Gavin & Co. Handicap Hurdle at Galway on Saturday.

Owned by Eamonn Lynch, Tony Quinn and John Lynch and ridden by Jack Gilligan for his father Paul, the consistent six-year-old raced in touch behind the leaders before making good headway to lead at the second-last and passed the post three and three quarter lengths ahead of Gabbys Cross.

Winning trainer Gilligan said: “He definitely deserved that as he has been consistent. We’re hoping to kick on to Cheltenham in November now for a staying handicap hurdle.

“He wants a trip, jumps well and is honest and that’s what you want. I reckon he’ll be a better chaser but I’d say we’ll wait to jump a fence until next year.”

After Buddy One, Shotgun Jack (17/2) was a second Athenry-trained winner on the card when he routed his rivals in the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Hurdle.

Fifth here on handicap debut over a shorter trip, the winner refused to settle in rear and Charlie O’Dwyer allowed him to gradually move up through the field. In front with a circuit to race, the five-year-old went clear after the second-last and strolled home to win by 13 lengths from Getaway Master.

The Califet gelding is owned by Mark M Kelly and trained by Pat Kelly. The latter’s son Tony commented: “He ran well enough here the last day and we were worried about the trip today but in fairness Charlie gave him a great ride. For a young lad claiming he let him slip on because the horse didn’t give him much of a chance.”

THE Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle was won by well-supported newcomer Release The Beast.

The son of Affinisea, trained by Paul Nolan for Anne Coffey, Susan Spence and Sonja Buckley, was sent off the even-money favourite and jumped to the front at the second-last. He only needed to be shaken up on the run-in by Sean Flanagan to beat Mac’s Xpress by three and a half lengths.

Nolan said: “We bought him off Harley Dunne after seeing him do a piece of work so fair play to Harley and he has never disappointed us one day. All I can say is we are excited by him, however much depth there was to that race.”

The only race over fences on the card was the Sanserv Rated Novice Chase and it produced a fine finish with The Big Chap digging deep to follow up his shock victory over My Mate Mozzie earlier in the month at Fairyhouse.

Owned by the Glenmore Goes Racing Syndicate, the 7/2 chance made virtually all and showed a willing attitude when challenged in the straight to hold on by a neck from Hartur D’arc and complete a double for jockey Sean Flanagan.

Winning trainer Paul Flynn said: “He is something to look forward to and could go for a handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas. He likes fences, jumps, goes a good gallop and could eventually go for the Grand Annual at Cheltenham - I think that’s the type of horse he is.”

Kaleosun

Kaleosun left behind an odds-on defeat on stable debut at Cork when landing the Renvyle House Hotel 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.

A winner on the flat in France, the son of No Risk At All was prominent throughout under Jack Kennedy and took over in front at the second-last before staying on well to beat Ose Partir by a length and a quarter. The 5/2 chance is trained for Gigginstown House Stud by Gordon Elliott.

“I think a bit of company and slower ground today helped him,” said Kennedy. “He probably isn’t the quickest in the world but stays well and is a nice one. He is National Hunt bred so will be alright on that type of ground for the winter.”

TRAINER Tom Cooper and his son Bryan have a nice young prospect on their hands in the shape of Butcher Hollow who made a winning debut under rules in the Colm Quinn BMW (C & G) (Pro/Am) Flat Race.

Bought for £200,000 at Cheltenham in February shortly after easily winning a Tallow point-to-point for Con McSweeney, the 11/4 chance raced handily and went clear coming out of the dip before being ridden out by Darragh Allen to beat The Other Mozzie by four and half lengths.

Bryan Cooper said: “I thought he looked visually impressive when he won his point-to-point and thankfully Ciaran (Mooney, from Dublin) and John (Ryan, Nenagh) joined forces to buy him.

“We’ve had positive vibes with him from day one and we kept him in training until Punchestown. However the ground went against him so it was the right thing to do to put him away.”

“He’s only four and we won’t rush into any plans but the lads wanted a horse to get them to the Cheltenham Festival”

The Corrib Oil Maiden Hurdle was won by Waterford Whispers (11/4) who added to a fine afternoon for his trainer Henry de Bromhead.

The Knockeen handler, celebrating his 51st birthday, had already completed a handicap chase double at Cheltenham with Dancing On My Own and Whacker Clan. Ridden by Mark Walsh, Waterford Whispers raced close to the pace and led on the run-in to beat Ataboycharlie by a length and a half.

Frank Berry, racing manager for the winning owner J.P. McManus, said: “Mark said they went quite slow which gave him a chance as the few mistakes he made didn’t lose him any ground.

“He was green, will learn a bit and is a fine big horse who will make a chaser some day.”