THERE was a popular winner of the Listed Campion Insurance Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase when Happy Dreams continued his rise through the ranks for the grandfather and grandson partnership of Michael and Mark McDonagh.

In other years, the six-year-old wouldn’t have got a run or managed to keep within the handicap in this €45,000 contest, but the 0-150 event only had a horse rated 137 as the highest-rated in proceedings. That meant Happy Dreams, sent off 13/2 to make a winning return to fences, competed off just 9st 12lb when factoring in the rider’s 3lb claim.

Top-weight Glengouly made a decent fist of it close to the pace for Willie and Danny Mullins, but the weight differential told at the death, and three and three quarters of a length was the margin between first and second.

The winning trainer, based in nearby Cratloe, Co Clare, said: “This is our second winner of the week so Christmas has been good to us. It’s the third time this horse has won here - he loves Limerick. He was well-in at the bottom of the handicap and Mark gave him a lovely ride. I’m very happy with what we achieved this week.”

McNamaras on top

There were also happy local connections after the D Pack Packaging Handicap Hurdle when Storm Mahler prevailed in a photo for Conor and Eric McNamara at 13/2.

The father-and-son team, whose Real Steel finished a cracking third in the previous day’s Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, were winning for the third time this year with Michael Hannon’s five-year-old.

“Usually I’d have a fair idea what way the result has gone but this time I really didn’t know,” said the winning trainer. “This is great because we’ve been hitting the crossbar up to this point over Christmas. It’s lovely to get one here at Limerick in particular.

“The owners of this horse are the most loyal and superb people. Michael is a friend of my brother Jimmy and he’s been with me for a good while now. We’ve had a bit of success together and this horse has been lucky for us. Onwards and upwards hopefully.”

Super Story

There was one more Limerick winner to come in the concluding Woodlands House Hotel Adare Bumper, however, when The Story So Far built on two promising bumper efforts to win for the first time under Ray Barron.

The Milkers Syndicate-owned five-year-old found generously for pressure late on deny 25/1 outsider Remember’hesmine (Jarlath Fahey) by three quarters of a length at 3/1, with Willie Mullins-trained favourite Cadoudal Saint (SP 3/10) plugging away in third without getting on top.

Byrnes said: “The owners are local to me in Ballingarry so it is great for them. Just as he did at Navan last time, he hit a flat spot turning in before staying on.

“I’d say he’s an out-and-out three miler so it’s probably a bonus to win a bumper. He is a nice horse who we bought as a foal.

“I’d imagine he’ll probably go jumping a hurdle now.”

MARTIN Brassil was left with just one runner on the day after Fastorslow was withdrawn from the Savills Chase due to rain-softened ground, but the shrewd trainer still managed to get on the scoresheet at Limerick with Built By Ballymore in the two-mile-five-furlong CUBE Maiden Hurdle.

Partnered by the trainer’s son Conor, the 4/1 shot ran out a most easy 12-length winner in the colours of Sean and Bernardine Mulryan, and now appears to be finding his feet over hurdles.

“He’s big and raw and will take time to come to himself,” said the winning rider. “Even though we went a nice gallop and were a few lengths off the leader, I was happy where I was sitting. I thought the horse in front [Beau Walking] would carry me further and I took him back. I kicked on then.

“He’ll learn loads from jumping the last two hurdles in front. There’s plenty more to come and he will jump a fence too. He will be a bit better on better ground but slogged it out today.”

Binge proves best

Gordon Elliott would have been disappointed by American Mike’s performance in the feature event when beating only one rival and weakening away tamely, but he was on target in the other maiden hurdle on the card when Binge Worthy ran out a comfortable five-length winner under Keith Donoghue.

Denis Gallagher Racing’s £160,000 point-to-point recruit had run respectably when a 12-length fifth to stablemate Jalon D’oudairies at Fairyhouse earlier in the month and delivered the goods at 5/1 on his hurdling bow.

Stable representative Ian ‘Busty’ Amond said: “He won well and Keith kept it simple on him. When he was in front he had a good look at the last two hurdles but won well enough and Keith said he’ll be a grand horse going forward.”

Ishan’s 2023 treble

There could also be more good days ahead for the Sam Curling-trained Ishan, who confirmed his liking for testing ground with a staying-on success in the Mayson Standing At Springfield House Stud, Knock, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary Handicap Hurdle.

Phillip Enright has struck up a good partnership with Pius Collins’ young handicapper and was registering his third win aboard him off a mark of 104. He remains attractively handicapped over fences with his rating of 95 in that sphere.

Speaking after the length and a half win over Ballyadam Destiny, Curling said: “He loves those conditions and stays really well. That’s his second time winning around here too. He had a hard race today and we’ll mind him – he’s only five going six.”