SEAN O’Keeffe has built up a good association with champion trainer Willie Mullins this season and the pair teamed up to land the Grade 2 BoyleSports Irish EBF Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase with Concertista, the highlight of a double for the talented young rider.

The daughter of Nathaniel won twice at Grade 2 level over hurdles and has already emulated that feat over fences after just two chase outings this term.

She was thrown in the deep end on her reappearance at Cork and followed up here under a 5lb penalty.

Kitty Galore set a strong pace in the extended two-mile-six-furlong event and soon built up a significant lead that was still about 10 lengths approaching the home straight.

However, she was reeled in by O’Keeffe’s mount at the penultimate fence and the 1/2 favourite kept on well on the run-in to beat Darrens Hope by four lengths. The pair drew 23 lengths clear of Fizzlestick in third as Kitty Galore faded badly into fifth.

The race was marred however by a fatal shoulder injury to 11/4 second favourite Sayce Gold who took a heavy fall just before halfway.

Full of praise

Mullins, speaking from Leopardstown, was full of praise for the jockey saying: “Sean O’Keeffe gave her a superb ride. It’s a lot of pressure for a younger jockey like him riding a hotshot in a race like that with a horse that goes off in front.

“He ignored that and he rode his own race. I was very impressed with his ride and also very impressed with the way she jumps.

“For a mare having her second run over fences she jumps likes a handicapper. She was very slick and very sharp.”

A delighted O’Keeffe said: “She was obviously high class over hurdles and Willie has done a very good job keeping her sweet. At the top of the hill Kitty Galore had a good lead but my mare was picking up loads and I knew turning into the straight she would pick her up easy.”

The sponsors left her unchanged at 5/2 favourite for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Double

O’Keeffe doubled up when Itsnotinit just got the better of Golden Cosmos in the final 50 yards to take the three-mile Parkway Shopping Centre Handicap Hurdle by half a length. The well-backed 5/2 favourite gained his only previous win in the two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdle on this card 12 months ago.

“He is a horse who wasn’t easy to train and we picked this heavy ground for him. I’m glad he came back and did it for the boys (Albert Dravins and Eamonn Scanlon) at Christmas time and a festival meeting,” said trainer Paul Nolan before adding: “Jennifer French, who led him up, is lucky to be here as she got a nasty bite tacking him up.”

Spyglass Hill makes amends

SPYGLASS HILL, who was in front at the Canal Turn when unseating Hugh Morgan in the Grand Sefton Chase last month, made amends by landing the €40,000 Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding was prominent throughout in this near two-mile-four-furlong contest and after holding a few lengths advantage at the final fence, the 12/1 chance was driven right out to hold off Rebel Gold by a diminishing half-length.

“I’m delighted for Niall (O’Leary, owner) for sticking with me as we were unlucky in the Grand Sefton Chase. I was sick because I felt we were still travelling,” said Morgan. “He was electric today and when the other horses came to him he went on again. The slower ground helped him and it’s a big pot to win.”

Rebel Gold’s trainer Pat Foley went one better when Youralwaysdreamin landed the two-mile-two furlong Doherty Woodshavings INH Flat Race.

The well-supported 9/2 (from 8/1) chance led inside the final 150 yards under Mikey McGuane to beat Memories Never Die by a length and a half.

“He is tough and is really a two-mile-four horse but I knew he’d go on that (heavy) ground and we were quietly confident,” said Foley, who trains the Shirocco gelding for owner/breeder Michael O’Dowd.

The Bagenalstown trainer added: “He’s improved a lot from his last run at Clonmel and I wouldn’t be surprised if he improved again because he is only figuring out about racing now and the family were slow to come to hand.

“We’ll go over hurdles now.”

Greater days ahead for Gatsby Grey

GATSBY Grey (6/1) looks a useful prospect for Oliver McKiernan and the Keep The Faith Syndicate after the Navan bumper winner made the transition to hurdling in the Keith Lynch Memorial Maiden Hurdle.

The French-bred gelding, who won his bumper for Declan Queally last spring before joining the Rathcoole trainer, led away from the second last and soon took control under Barry Browne to score by seven lengths from Kings Keeper.

McKiernan said: “He is a tricky enough horse and worked a few times at home on sand and didn’t enlighten me but Barry said the horse was holding his breath. He did a good piece of work at Punchestown and we’re delighted with that.”

Bold Getaway, trained by Gordon Elliott for Jimmy Fyffe, quickened up on the inner to lead before the last for a three-and-a-half-length victory over Fameaftertheglory in the CUBE Maiden Hurdle.

“I rode him in his point-to-points and he is a grand big horse and a typical Getaway,” said Jordan Gainford of the 11/4 winner. “He likes that ground and is a horse to look forward to. Going a trip in time won’t be a problem to him.”

Fameaftertheglory’s trainer and rider, Gavin Cromwell and Luke Dempsey, didn’t have to wait too long to get on the scoresheet as Donnrua Dream took advantage of getting in as first reserve to record a 33/1 shock in the D Pack Packaging Handicap Hurdle. The Green Grass Syndicate’s gelding travelled sweetly to challenge at the penultimate flight and a better jump at the last proved decisive.

Dempsey said: “I was taking him back everywhere but the horses in front were stopping and I ended up being there too soon. He idled more so than anything on the run-in.”