WILLIE Mullins took the training honours with a double as Paggane provided former champion Paul Townend with a winner on his only ride on the card, while Dysart Dazzler landed prohibitive odds on his debut in the bumper.

The Marie Donnelly-owned Paggane appreciated a step up in distance when finishing strongly to land the Kilbegganraces.com Novice Hurdle. Littlebiggie set a good pace in this three-miles-one-furlong event but was headed by Paggane at the final flight and the 10/3 shot kept on well on the run-in to beat that rival by four and a half lengths.

“The step up in trip and nicer ground is what she wanted,” said Townend. “Her jumping was slow at the start of the year but she’s getting a bit better. They went at it hard early enough and she stayed well. Once the ground is safe, I’d imagine she will run through the summer.”

Dazzling start

Dysart Dazzler hails from a family that owner/breeder Eleanor Manning has enjoyed plenty of success with in the past, but those who supported the Flemensfirth gelding to go off the 2/7 favourite had a few anxious moments before collecting in the bumper.

Patrick Mullins was hard at work on the hot-pot before the straight and appeared to slightly interfere with Serious Chat inside the final furlong before asserting in the closing stages to beat that rival by two and a half lengths. The placings were confirmed following a stewards’ inquiry.

“He’s very green, a big baby and not like his brother (Dysart Dynamo). He was behind the bridle all the way and I was always going to win but he was just very lazy and didn’t switch on into race mode,” said Patrick Mullins. “I think he’ll improve a lot mentally rather than fitness wise and I’d imagine three miles might be more his thing.”

DERMOT McLoughlin won the Midlands National here in 2020 with subsequent Irish Grand National hero Freewheelin Dylan and Mousey Brown has the Ratoath trainer dreaming of bigger days ahead after landing the featured two-miles-and-four-furlongs Cooke’s Bar And Restaurant Caragh Handicap Chase.

The Alan Smith-owned mare, available at 7/1 in the morning and sent off at 3/1, was gaining her fifth victory under rules but first over fences when drawing clear on the run-in under Paddy O’Hanlon to beat Optional Mix by three and a quarter lengths.

“They went a good gallop which suited as she stays well and has won on all types of ground. She hasn’t run over fences for a while but she warmed into the jumping and Paddy said she came alive three out. We’d think about the Midlands National here if she could sneak into it as all she does is gallop and stay,” said McLoughlin.

Fine performance

Sea Music (7/1) made a successful transition to fences when taking the Sustainable Style Ladies Competition Beginners Chase in good style. The Emmet Mullins-trained gelding put in a generally fine round of jumping under Donagh Meyler making most and ridden out to assert on the run-in for a near five-length verdict over Dutch Schultz.

Meyler said, “He jumped super bar the last with a circuit to go and it’s great to ride a winner for the Mee family. It was a 0-116 beginners today and he’d probably have his work cut out to win a normal beginners but hopefully he’ll get a bit of confidence from it.”

Local success

The opening Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle went to the well-backed Mr Dibbs, trained locally by Adrian Murray for Jose Souza Guerra. The Yeats gelding, available at 16/1 overnight and sent off at just 4/1, collared the front-running Ad Caelum after the last before stretching clear under Eoin Kelly to beat that rival by six lengths.

Murray said: “It took him a few races to find his form this year, maybe it was the ground, but he looked fitter and had a good coat on him today. He loves this ground and will keep going for the summer. He could go to Galway.”

RESERVE Judgement, successful over hurdles last year for John McConnell, made a winning start for Leanne Breen when leading before the last in the three-miles-and-one-furlong Joe Quinn Transport Longford Handicap Hurdle to beat the staying on The Lucky Lobster by two and a quarter lengths.

“The better ground helped and he’s jumping well. He’s done a lot of schooling and I train him off the beach,” said Breen who trains the 12/1 winner for Ryan Kerins. “I’m delighted and would love another few for summer hurdling if they are all that easy! Carl (Millar) gave him a good ride and 7lb off him is a lot.”

Shraheen, trained by Philip Fenton for Thomas Coleman, opened his account when defying top weight in the Midlands National Day Friday 12th July Handicap Hurdle drawing clear of Riyami after the last to score by two and three-quarter lengths at odds of 11/2.

“He’s his own worst enemy as he normally races with the choke out but today he relaxed a little better,” said Fenton. “Mentally he’s still a little backward but he’ll be a grand horse when he grows up. He’s a lovely big fella and looks a chaser.”