NEWCASTLE West native Gary Noonan registered the first double of his career at the 13th and final meeting of the season at Killarney on Sunday last.

The conditional rider teamed-up with fellow countyman Eoin McCarthy when guiding Caoimhes Pet to victory in the Tote Fantasy, Who’s In Your Stable Handicap Hurdle.

Returned a well-backed 7/2 joint-favourite (from 13/2 early) and settled behind the leaders, the John Kelly-owned bay took closer order before three out and gained a narrow lead on the run to the last.

On her first start since February, she needed to be ridden out on the run-in to see off the game effort of Baltinglass Hill, with a length and three quarters between them at the line.

“This is a lovely filly and she was unlucky last year when she got a fracture in her fetlock on her last run,” McCarthy commented. “She is a typical Sageburg, as it takes them a while to learn their game, but she is improving.”

Noonan completed his brace aboard Val O’Brien’s Avec Espoir (14/1) in the Play Tote Fantasy At tote.ie Handicap Chase.

The first two home dominated this nine-runner contest from flag fall and raced in a share of the lead early on.

The chesnut victor established an outright advantage before the fourth and while challenged by eventual runner-up Likeable Chancer from three out, he battled on doggedly when ridden on the run-in, coming home a length to the good.

“He jumped for fun and the ground drying out was a big help. His run in Listowel last week (third to Harvey’s Quay) was good,” O’Brien, who trains the winner for his brother Sean, remarked. “He needs to go left-handed and there is a race for him in Navan before the winter comes.”

There was a substantial sting in the tail for Noonan, who was handed an eight-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency, while also failing to give his mount sufficient time to respond.

ENDA Bolger clearly holds Solitary Man in high regard, describing the five-year-old as a ‘very exciting horse’, after his success in the feature Tote On Course & tote.ie Rated Novice Hurdle.

Sent off a well-backed 6/4 favourite (from 5/2) under Darragh O’Keeffe, the Champs Elysees bay raced mainly in second, improving into a share of the lead early in the straight.

Soon sent to the front and ridden clear before the final flight, he came home five lengths to the good in the colours of Paul and Linda Shanahan.

“He will be a lovely chaser in time and we’re very happy with him,” Bolger enthused. “He was well-bought by Paul from his breeder Kevin Doyle, the retired Republic of Ireland footballer.”

Bythesametoken also justified market confidence in the Free Streaming All Racing At tote.ie Handicap Chase, with the Ross O’Sullivan-trained top-weight returned the 7/4 favourite from early shows of 7/2.

Taking closer order in second from halfway, the nine-year-old improved into a share of the lead and travelled best under Keith Donoghue on the approach to three out.

In front before the next, he ultimately kept on best when ridden on the run-in and had two lengths to spare at the line.

“He got an awful fall at Leopardstown (in March 2022) and completely lost his confidence,” O’Sullivan said of the Downtown Syndicate-owned Fame And Glory bay.

“He got his confidence back over hurdles and Keith said he felt like a different horse today.”

Another son of Fame And Glory claimed the concluding Tote Fantasy Beginners Chase, with Read To Return comfortably seeing off his six rivals.

The second choice of punters at 11/8, the Tony Martin-trained six-year-old was settled in mid-division by Phillip Enright and jumped well throughout.

Owned by the Spectacular Seven Syndicate, he eased to the front before the final fence, going on to account for Hutchie by three lengths.

“He was a bit unlucky on Monday (beaten a neck into second) and while I don’t like pulling them out again quickly, it would have been a shame to miss this opportunity. We’ll go handicap chasing now,” Martin divulged.

ON what was a profitable afternoon for favourite backers, Londonofficecallin vindicated his position at the head of the market in the Follow ToteRacing On Twitter Handicap Hurdle.

Recording his fourth win since June, the In Bounds Syndicate-owned six-year-old has been a revelation since joining the Rathkeale yard of Eric McNamara.

Never far from the pace under McNamara’s son Conor, the 5/2 chance jumped left two out and gained a narrow lead before the final flight.

The likeable grey again jumped to his left at the last and in what was a bunch finish, he needed to be ridden out in the closing stages to prevail by three quarters of a length.

“He has been a lovely and lucky horse. He jumped green enough and made a bad mistake six out, even though he didn’t lose momentum,” the winning handler reflected.

“I think he will be better coming back in trip, but it is good to know that if there is a nice race over this distance that he could certainly go for it.”

Straightforward

It was much more straightforward for Goodie Two Shoes in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle, as she came home eight lengths clear of her nearest rival.

A smart performer on the level, the Joseph O’Brien-trained bay raced mainly in third under Simon Torrens, before being left second by the fall of market rival Silent Approach (6/4) five flights from the finish.

Returned the 11/8 favourite, the J.P. McManus-owned victor closed on the front-running Zoomtime heading in to the straight and readily stretched clear after the second last.

“The other mare (Silent Approach) took a nasty spill. Then it was a case of not letting the leader get too far in front of me and she did it well in the end,” Torrens explained. “I’d say she is just learning and coming to herself over hurdles. Hopefully she’ll keep progressing.”