GAELIC Arc (12/1) led a double for John Ryan at Killarney on Friday, when getting off the mark over fences in the feature Boylesports Handicap Chase, and winning €27,000 in the process.

Twice a winner and Grade 2-placed over hurdles, Mark Fleming and Thomas Westropp Bennett’s homebred made all under Sean O’Keeffe and began to extend his advantage from two out. The joint bottom-weight went on to beat Grade 3-winning chaser Dancing On My Own by eight lengths, while three-time Grade 1 winner Flooring Porter was beaten 34 lengths into fifth.

“He had previously run too free here in May but Sean let him go today,” said the winning trainer. “He is a proper two-mile chaser who loves good ground. He is a very good horse on his day.”

Father Jed’s sweetheart follows up

Experienced stablemate Kilashee (11/2) followed up last week’s wide margin handicap hurdle win with a successful switch to fences in the Lee Strand Handicap Chase over two miles and seven furlongs.

Shane Fitzgerald partnered the nine-year-old to score by four lengths and a quarter, with another 17 lengths back to the third. Owned by the Bitview Partnership, she extends her record to two chase wins and another three over hurdles.

Ryan provided a unique story for his second winner. “She is trained from out the field and lives with Father Jed; the two of them go into the one stable and are like an odd couple. He’ll be at the gate whinnying for her when we get home, it’s amazing.”

FAVOURITE-backers held their breath in the Europe Hotel & Resort Mares Maiden Hurdle, as Gordon Elliott’s Wudya (11/4 favourite) overcame messy jumps at the third last and penultimate flight to win by eight lengths for owner-breeder Philip Reynolds.

It marked a successful return to action for Jack Kennedy at his local track, on his first ride since May 3rd, following suspensions.

“I tried to get her settled in second,” he relayed. “But she was trying to do more, as we were going so steady. I let her on, she settled in front and got an easy enough lead. It was great to get that as she had been knocking on the door.”

On his absence, Kennedy commented, “My foot was a bit battered and bruised at Punchestown but I was okay after two weeks and then obviously had the suspensions. It wasn’t ideal but it was nice to get a break without having a broken leg or injury.”

Incident-packed opener

The preceding opener, the Killarney Grand 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle, also made for interesting viewing, as the Joseph O’Brien-trained Inspire Hope (7/2) avoided drama to make her second start a winning one. Ben Kennedy had the misfortune of a slipped saddle aboard Sinbad My Dad, and after a prolonged attempt to pull up his mount, was carried out to the stable yard by a loose horse.

The eventual winner, meanwhile, raced prominently under J.J. Slevin and drew clear from the second last to score by six and a half lengths.

Slevin, who donned the colours of Mark Dobbin, said: “I was hoping she might have done that the first day (at Tipperary), but maybe I was sharper today as it wasn’t my finest hour then.”

The father-and-son team of Paul and Jack Gilligan came out on top in a thrilling finish to the Lee Strand Handicap Hurdle, as Zeeband (6/1) ran down Black Bamboo and Danny Gilligan to lead by a neck on the line.

“To have your two sons coming up the home straight in first and second was great, and the right lad won!” said Gilligan Snr, who trained the winner for Paul Carty and Natalie Gilligan.

The trainer earmarked the two-mile-and-six-furlong hurdle at Galway as Zeeband’s next target.

ELLEN Kelly (2/1) built on last month’s impressive 12-length success at Sligo to win the finale, the Christy Lucey Transport Mares (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, by all of 21 lengths under Patrick Mullins for father Willie.

Syndicates.Racing’s mare set a brisk pace out in front and looked the likely winner from some way out. Ridden from the two furlong pole, she drew further clear as her rivals fought for placings.

After a warm reception from the owners, Patrick Mullins said, “Kudos to Jack Cantillon and John Bourke, who bought her for €13,000. She is improving with every run.” Connections will now aim for a blacktype bumper.”

Bolger’s Man out on his own

Another potentially classy winner on the card was Enda Bolger’s well-named charge Solitary Man (3/1), who ran out an eight-and-a-half-length winner of the Lee Strand Novice Chase over two miles and a furlong. It marked a significant drop back in trip from his winning chase debut at the track and listed success in November. Owned by Mrs Paul Shanahan, the six-year-old has now won or finished second on all of his last seven starts.

“I was worried about the distance,” Bolger admitted. “I thought maybe he needed to go another round, but his jumping was slick. He flies around Killarney and there is a two-mile-and-six-furlong race for him here in August.”