WILLIE Mullins, Gordon Elliott and John Murphy finished the ‘old Tralee’ August festival meeting at Killarney with three winners apiece on Saturday, where the trio were on the mark in five of the eight races.

Elliott began by winning the opening Killarney Park Hotel Maiden Hurdle with 4/7 favourite The Wallpark, under Jack Kennedy and for owner Francis Mangan. The son of Ask raced with the pace and eventually shook off Ninth Loch to score by almost a length. Elliott reported: “He probably wants a trip. If you look at his Downpatrick bumper win, he was flat out at the top of the hill and I’d say he wants 2m4f. Jack (Kennedy) said he was going as quick as he was able the whole way. Francis Mangan from Straffan bought him before he won his bumper and he’ll be grand and will win his races. He’ll jump a fence too and will go on any ground except the extremes.”

Elliott completed a double in the two-runner ML Lynch Civil Eng. Novice Chase with even-money second-favourite Salvador Ziggy, which proved too strong for 4/5 favourite Toss Again. Runner-up at last March’s Cheltenham Festival, the William and Aisling Hurley-owned winner is now unbeaten in three chase runs. Afterwards, winning jockey Jack Kennedy reported: “It was very straightforward and he jumped great. I couldn’t have been happier with him and it was a fairly simple task. He has a bit of class about him, isn’t a slow horse and is effective anywhere from 2m4f up to three miles.”

CHAMPION trainer Willie Mullins also completed a double, beginning with We’llhavewan (8/11 favourite, under Paul Towned) in the International Hotel Handicap Hurdle.

The winner looked to be outpaced at stages of the 2m6f contest but stayed well and held Happy Jacky by a half-length. Patrick Mullins, representing his father, said: “We bought the horse from Paul’s father Tim (Townend) who also bred him, and the horse came highly recommended. That’s his third race to win for us and it is great for Simon (Wilson) and his wife who are here for the week. We have a mark over fences and we’ll keep tipping away but without any grand plans. The further the better for him.”

Both Mullins men combined to win the concluding bumper with the Hammer and Trowel’s own-bred and Quevega’s daughter Aurora Vega (1/7 favourite), which routed her five rivals. Mullins junior reported: “I went around thinking I don’t want her to whip around at the starting tape or duck out at a doll or something stupid but it was very straightforward and she did it great. She is improving and we’re hoping to get blacktype with her.

“Willie might want to go jumping now but I’d be hoping she would go for a listed bumper. I don’t think she’ll jump fences so we may stay bumpering this season and go hurdling next season - that’s my argument anyway. She’s not big but is wide and strong.”

TRAINER John Murphy had recorded a double at the venue on Thursday and added the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (division 2) to his recent haul, including six wins from 18 runs, with well-backed Vintage Gold (17/2, for the All Inclusive Syndicate), under Daniel King. King commented: “We went a gallop the whole way and I was in a good rhythm. He let fly at some of his jumps but when I gathered him up again, I could feel him underneath me. He picked them off nicely up the straight.

“He only ran here on the Flat on Thursday and hasn’t had many runs over jumps so will learn plenty from today. That’s my first winner for John, who was very good to my brother Connor (retired jockey) so it was nice to get a win for him. I rode one horse on the flat for him recently but that was my first ride over jumps for him.”

Feature race was the Listed E45,000 Kellihers Toyota Handicap Chase which was won by J.P. McManus’ course specialist Stealthy Tom (5/2 favourite) under Mark McDonogh.

The eight-year-old raced prominently and comfortably defeated Mr Saxobeat by ten lengths, with winning trainer Enda Bolger commenting: “His jumping was great today, it was slick and fast and Mark’s claim was a help.

“He is a grand little horse, that’s his fourth win around here. The Kerry National would have to come into the equation now but it all depends on what is top weight.”

The other chase, the Killarney Avenue Hotel Beginners Chase, was won in fine style by fences debutante Captain Conby, for trainer Eamonn ‘Dusty” Sheehy, jockey Keith Donoghue and the O’Reilly Buller Partnership.

Sheehy said: “Keith thinks he has a nice future over fences and hopefully he can compete at a high level. I intended going to run him in a novice chase at Wexford next week, that’s how confident I was with him.

“The graded Kilbegnet Chase at Roscommon is an obvious target for him - I’ve finished second in it twice so I’m going to have a go again.”

General Clermont gained an overdue first win in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (division 1), surviving a final flight blunder to score under Gavin Brouder and for owner Derek Mara.

Fitzgerald, also successful at the July festival, reported: “He was too free the last day and settled today. I thought he’d do that a long time ago and ran a cracker in a maiden hurdle here in the past when he was a 112 or 113 rated horse.

“He is a tricky horse to win with but got a super ride today. My horses are healthy and we’ll enjoy the wins while we have them.”