WILLIE Mullins and Paul Townend teamed up for a quickfire double in the opening two races with short-priced favourites Luckinthecity and Tounsivator, and connections of the latter are now looking forward to some lofty targets on the flat.

Tounsivator won twice on the level in France before being acquired by Temple Bloodstock and made a successful start for current connections in a Naas maiden hurdle earlier this year. The Motivator gelding was just denied last time in a valuable handicap at the Galway Festival but made no mistake here when striding clear in the straight to beat stablemate Ninth Titan by 14 lengths at odds of 10/11. 

Temple Bloodstock is the brainchild of former amateur rider Aubrey McMahon who said, “He ran a cracker in Galway and was in front everywhere bar the line. That was a big run for his first handicap and it’s nice to win here today. He jumped well, is only five and is improving away so we’re delighted to have him.

“He has a nice handicap mark on the flat that looks workable, and he has entries in the Irish and English Cesarewitch. He’s unlikely to get into the Irish but he might get into Newmarket in October. It would be a nice one to have a crack at it.”

Opener

Listowel bumper winner Luckinthecity initiated the double when justifying odds of 2/5 on his debut over hurdles in the End Of Season Celebration September 6th Maiden Hurdle. The Roger Brookhouse homebred son of Yorgunnabelucky was prominent throughout and held off the challenge of Garnacho by three-quarters of a length.

“It’s tight enough on the inside track but I was happy enough that he wasn’t going to be passed,” said Townend. “He missed the fourth last which wasn’t ideal, the only hurdle he missed, but he was back on it after that. He was looking for company going down to the last and when I asked him he picked up. Hopefully he can improve away.”

INVICTUS Machin hasn’t quite lived up to expectations since winning a Down Royal maiden hurdle on debut nearly two years ago, but the J.P. McManus-owned gelding finally came good over fences in the featured Curragh To Curragh Charity Cycle On Saturday August 31st Handicap Chase.

 “It’s nice to finally win one with him. He’s been frustrating and the ground was too quick for him in Limerick the last day. The rain just left it nice ground today,” said trainer Gavin Cromwell after the 12/1 shot led before the last and was driven out by Kieren Buckley to beat Sphagnum by a length. “He’s not up to going on deep winter ground but just needs to get his toe in a little bit. Hopefully that will do his confidence good.”

Cruising

Joe’s Turn attracted support from 8/1 in the morning going off the 10/3 favourite in the other race over fences, the Racing Again On 4th September Handicap Chase, and readily justified confidence in the three-mile, one-furlong event.

Trained by Mark McNiff for Francisca Carton, the son of Jet Away cruised to the front at the last under Phillip Enright before going on to beat Kadys Dirha by an easy length and a quarter.

Enright said: “He’d a nice run here the last day and if he brought that form, he was entitled to be thereabouts. He seemed to keep galloping the last day so we were hopeful that a step up (in distance) might suit.”

Making all

Native Speaker looks set to go over fences soon after gaining a deserved win when making all under Rachael Blackmore in the New Forest Estate & Golfclub Maiden Hurdle.

“He deserved to win a maiden hurdle. He’s had some good runs in maidens and I’m delighted for Paddy Hale (owner),” said trainer Henry de Bromhead’s assistant Robert Power after the 6/4 favourite beat the staying on Magellan Strait by a length and a quarter.

“I’d imagine we’ll be going straight over fences as he’s a brilliant jumper. He has plenty of experience, he stays really well and is a horse to look forward to in staying chases.”

THE Tom Lynam Memorial Handicap Hurdle proved a real triumph for the handicapper and 20/1 shot Good World found most from the last under Ricky Doyle to beat Sargent Lightfoot by three-quarters of a length with Riyami not enjoying a clear passage just a length back in third.

The Eoin Griffin-trained gelding was recording his fourth career win and Doyle said: “He’s small but he was good and tough there. Going down to the last he was in a bit of a sandwich, but he came out the better side of it. Eoin said he was fit and ready to go and he was third in this race last year. He likes it around here.”

Miss Dishy, a recent addition to local trainer Ciaran Murphy’s yard, got the better of a good battle in the straight with Cailin Deas in the John Thomas McNamara Series Flat Race as Eoghan Finegan’s mount prevailed by three-quarters of a length.

Whip bans

Finn Gillen and Simon Cavanagh both picked up two-day whip bans on their unplaced mounts.

“The same (Street Wise Syndicate) lads had Granville Street who won here last year but was hard to keep sound.

“He’s out for a year and they wanted another one, so we bought this filly who came very well recommended from Harry and Lorna Fowler,” said Murphy of the 9/2 winner. “She will probably go over hurdles now and is an improving filly.”