ON the occasion of his 73rd birthday J.P. McManus enjoyed a nice winner at his home track at Limerick last Sunday. Bioluminescence (7/4 second favourite) hinted that there are bigger and better things to come given the manner of her success in the Grade 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Shannon Spray Mares Novice Hurdle.

Several still held chances going to the penultimate flight but Bioluminescence had been excellent with her hurdling and went on to run out a good winner.

Simon Torrens did the steering for the Gavin Cromwell yard, and the successful daughter of Walk In The Park put her stamp on proceedings from the last to beat Millstream Lady by three and a quarter lengths.

Speaking from Naas, Cromwell later reflected: “She’s a lovely big mare that I’ve always thought plenty of.

“I know she’s six but she’s only starting to come to hand and that was an ideal race for her there with the trip (two miles and six furlongs). She’s going to need a trip in time when she goes over a fence.

“She’s entered in the Grade 1 at Fairyhouse and all being well she’ll go there.”

The Meath handler was also on the mark in the big money event at the Co Kildare venue through Hartur D’arc in the Leinster National.

Flying visit

Proceedings began with Daryl Jacob making a flying visit to score for his employers Isaac Souede and Simon Munir, aboard the Joseph O’Brien-handled hot-pot Intellotto (2/5), in the Panoramic Restaurant At Limerick Racecourse Hurdle.

Coming hot-on-the-heels of another winner for the ‘double green’ on the afternoon, as the mare Fun Fun Fun had set tongues wagging when beating the boys at Naas, Jacob was confident from the front on the Carriganóg runner.

The winning chesnut was as low as he dared at the last, before going on to register a two and a half length win from Karl Des Tourelles.

More is expected now from Intellotto, on better ground at the spring festivals.

J.P. McManus, meanwhile, also got on the scoresheet in Naas, courtesy of Henry de Bromhead’s Raglan Road.

De Bromhead gathers across-the-card treble

IT was a productive afternoon all told for the de Bromhead team as they brought up an across-the-card treble with Hurricane Cliff and Sommesky registering Greenmount Park victories to add to Raglan Road’s Naas win.

Late on, the Parade Ring Bar Novice Handicap Chase wasn’t an easy watch. MacDermott (fell), Dundaniel (brought down) and Wee Charlie (fell) all came to grief over the closing couple of fences.

Down the outer, Darragh O’Keeffe kept the Molesworth Syndicate-owned 16/1 chance Hurricane Cliff clear of trouble, and he had 13 lengths to spare over The Gradual Slope at the finish for the de Bromhead yard.

Raceday stewards did review the fall of favourite MacDermott at the second last, where it appeared contact was made in mid-air, resulting in Dundaniel also coming a cropper. They deemed no further action was warranted.

Hat-trick

Newcomer Sommesky (85/40 favourite) rounded off the hat-trick for de Bromhead, in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Pro-Am Auction INH Flat Race.

John Gleeson donned the colours of Graiglore Limited on the Soldier Of Fortune chesnut.

Front-running A Tipp For Gold proved most troublesome to Sommesky as he tried to slip the field in the final quarter mile.

The victor was having none of it though, getting on top in the final furlong to prevail by two and a quarter-lengths in the end.

Jockey David Doyle had finished second earlier in the afternoon, aboard his father Tim’s Ricky Bobby at Naas. He made the dash to Limerick to partner Drumgill in this bumper for John Ryan. That outsider could manage a finishing position of no better than sixth, and Doyle reported afterwards to the Stewards’ secretary that his mount clipped a heel and stumbled independently.

THE reserve Getaway Master (9/1 into 7/1) made the most of his opportunity when coming off the bench to easily win the Follow Limerick Races Instagram Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Danny Mullins.

For the Daniels family from Loughrea, along with their fellow Galwegian Tom Moran, Getaway Master was rewarding his connections for their patience, getting off the mark at the 16th time of asking. Trainer Richard Daniels has just a small team, and Whatsafellatodo got him up and running on the racecourse proper at Ballinrobe last May.

Confidence

Oscars Brother (15/8 into 11/10 favourite) emphatically justified the confidence of his many backers in the Mother’s Day At Limerick Racecourse Maiden Hurdle.

Dan King did the steering for the Mak King Racing Syndicate and Damian Murphy, and the consistent Malinas gelding, second on all four previous appearances in public, extended away approaching the final flight.

The Story So Far (6/4 out to 2/1 on track - a market mover earlier) was beaten in fourth when departing two out, and it was left to pace-setter Mickie Angel to chase home Oscars Brother, at a distance of thirteen lengths.

The Mak King Racing Syndicate numbers the winning jockey’s family amongst its membership.

Top order

Also on the card, Falco Blitz (3/1) showed himself to be in real top order again at the age of 10 for the local father and son team of Eric and Conor McNamara.

He comfortably landed the Good Luck To All Irish Runners In Cheltenham Veterans Handicap Chase by six and a half lengths.

Conor McNamara sported the silks of Shane Carmody on the former Nicky Henderson inmate. He was doubling up after a Thurles victory in January.