PHILIP Fenton registered his biggest winner in 10 years at Limerick on Sunday as the trainer’s Balko D’ange (13/8 favourite) landed the featured Listed QuinnBet Handicap Hurdle, under jockey Niall Moore.

The French-bred had previously finished second in two maiden hurdles and, debuting in handicaps here, raced with the leaders before eventually scoring by a length and a half from Bright Legend.

Afterwards Fenton reported: “That was a great way to break his duck. We were disappointed with him here the last day, but the winner (Cottesloe Sunshine) won since so you could only be happy with it.

“He was in off a nice mark today and looks like an improver. It was a nice pot to win and we’ll go step-by-step with him now. He is a novice until the end of the season.”

Late Christmas present

Henry de Bromhead completed his Christmas haul in the Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle as his Sommesky (5/6 favourite) completed a cross-card double for the trainer to give the stable a sixth festive success.

Sommesky won in muddy conditions at Limerick last March and here, under jockey Mike O’Connor, quickened well to win comfortably by six and a half lengths from Custom Taylor.

De Bromhead was at Leopardstown where his July Flower earlier won a Grade 3 hurdle and, at Limerick, jockey O’Connor reported: “Sommesky’s run in Fairyhouse was encouraging and we thought if he built on that, he would be there or thereabouts.

“He lengthened away up the straight and seems a nice horse. He seems fairly versatile ground-wise and, from a jockey’s perspective, that distance seems far enough but maybe he might get three miles.”

CHARLES Byrnes won with consecutive Limerick runners, as his Whateys Quest (11/4 favourite) landed a gamble to land the Limerick Racecourse Novice Handicap Chase, under the trainer’s son Philip Byrnes.

Byrnes senior won the bumper on day three of the meeting with I Started A Joke and continued with Whateys Quest who scored readily by three lengths from Rusheen.

Byrnes senior stated “The (extra) distance made the difference as he was on his head the whole way at Naas the last day and couldn’t lie up. I had this race in mind for a while and it worked out.

“The ground is more testing and more dead today, and is similar to the ground he won on in Clonmel (in April). Everything was in his favour today and it is ‘job done’ now. This is his level and he’ll mix it between hurdles and fences.”

Regarding his son Philip, who has recently returned from injury, he added: “It was disappointing Philip missed our big winner in Haydock (with Shoot First) but it is what it is and he is back now, thank God.”

Scott’s local luck

There was another local winner of the Cuchulainn Maiden Hurdle as trainer/owner Gillian Scott’s Way Down South (20s to 12/1) scored under jockey Daniel King.

The ex-point-to-point winning five-year-old today made much of the running when defeating Annamaymurt by six and a half lengths.

Ballingarry-based Scott said: “My horses scoped wrong six weeks ago when Ask The Bookie bled but he ran well earlier today (finishing third) so I was hopeful.

“Way Down South can be quite hard on himself so we said we’d jump him out in front and see how we get on. I’m delighted it worked out and he is a nice horse for the future.”

Scott, who had a serious horse-related accident earlier this year, added: “Having a Listowel winner (in September) was a highlight, especially with the year we’ve had, but this is my first Christmas winner at my local course so it means a lot.”

OWNER/trainer John Ryan had a welcome change of fortune in the Prestige Tarmacadam Rated Novice Hurdle as his Ad Caelum (7/2) scored for amateur jockey David Doyle.

The winner quickened clear at the second-last and eventually held Killaney King by a length and three quarters.

An upset winning trainer spoke about the loss of his stable star Lucid Dreams in Friday’s Paddy Power Chase, saying: “It was very hard to take losing Lucid Dreams and I’m heartbroken. He put his foot in a divot and broke his leg after jumping a fence and it is heartbreaking. I loved the ‘oul horse. We brought him away and buried him at home.”

Racing began with the Masterchefs 2025 Maiden Hunters Chase which was won by the Terence O’Brien-trained, Near or Never Syndicate-owned Con’s Roc (6/1), under jockey Darragh Allen.

Patience prevails

Afterwards O’Brien said “Con’s Roc was hard to keep sound and, in fairness, the syndicate were patient as he was supposed to run in Tipperary last May, but I felt the ground was iffy so he didn’t run.

“Ideally, we’d love to think we could end up in Cheltenham and he’ll have one run before then and hope to get him in. The syndicate are all Kilworth and Araglen people and are good supporters, so it is great to get a win.”

The concluding RAYN Safety & Security Handicap Hurdle was won by the Brendan Walsh-trained Cal Shine-partnered Knockbrack Rambler, for Abbeyfeale-based owner/breeder Vincent O’Connor.

Walsh reported: “He is a grand old horse and the horse that finished third behind him at Clonmel the last day (Beggars Rock) won yesterday, so the form is working out well.

“He is a good, consistent horse but we were worried that the ground had become tacky although het got through it as he is tough. It’s grand to get a Christmas winner.”