Gordon Elliott completed a double at Limerick’s low-key meeting on Tuesday, with the trainer scoring with Bowensonfire and Road Exile.

The KTDA Racing-owned Bowensonfire (10/11) began by winning the Limerick On Instagram (C&G) Maiden Hurdle under Sam Ewing, but was the beneficiary of the final flight fall of challenger Beckistine at the final flight. The outcome was hanging in the balance, as the pair jumped that obstacle upsides, but Beckistine’s exit left Bowensonfire to score by 13 lengths from Kentucky Beach.

Elliott wasn’t present and afterwards his assistant Lisa O’Neill reported: “He is a grand horse and did things professionally today and settled a lot better. Sam got him jumping really well and it was good to get the win on the board.

“Sam thought he might have been beaten jumping the last, but he hadn’t gone for everything either. He said he’d be better on nicer ground and hopefully he can build on that now.”

Pointer turned bumper winner

Elliott’s double was completed by Gigginstown House Stud’s Road Exile (4/9f) in the concluding bumper, as the Josh Williamson-partnered gelding stretched clear of his rivals in the home straight to score by four and three quarter lengths from Found A Diamond.

O’Neill commented: “He is a such a big physical [horse] and anything he does this year will be a bonus, as he will be a lovely horse over jumps.

“That was a deserved success, as he was nailed on the line here during Christmas and today he showed he handled that ground. He kept galloping and sometimes that’s all you need. Josh is great value for his 7lb claim.”

WILLIE Mullins was on the mark in the Limerick Racecourse Mares Maiden Hurdle, as Sainte Tartare (1/3 favourite) scored under the champion trainer’s nephew Danny Mullins. Mullins was initially a reluctant leader on the Michael Stenning-owned mare, but eventually made virtually all of the running to score easily by 21 lengths from Nastya.

The winning rider later said: “She was keen the last day, so leading wasn’t what I really wanted today but, if needs be, she was a good, solid mare and I wasn’t afraid of making it.

“It was a good performance and, being a Saint Des Saints mare, she will be doing her best work over a bit further distance. I was able to fill up down the hill and put the race to bed once I asked the question. It was a nice performance and she ran out an easy winner in the end.”

Another clear winner

Racing began with the Limerick Racecourse Claiming Hurdle, which saw the Cian Collins-trained Robinstown (9/2) follow up last year’s success in the two-mile-and-five-furlong race.

The 10-year-old made all to score by 13 lengths under Tiernan Power Roche, whose claim now reduces to 5lb.

“We kept things the same as last year: jump and stretch them and gallop,” Collins said of Robinstown, who is owned by the One For No Reason Syndicate. “He worked well last week, so we actually fancied him today, as he was coming back into form.

“We were planning for today as this is now his level, as he is pushing on (in age). If I still have him, I’ll go for veterans chases with him, as he is qualified now.”

MACIVER (3/1) followed up a recent Tramore chase win with a third career success in the Become A Member @ Limerick Handicap Hurdle, scoring byhalf a length for trainer Arthur O’Grady, owner-breeder Ivor Dulohery and jockey Cian Quirke.

Afterwards, O’Grady reported: “He had his ground, but it didn’t come as easy at Tramore the last day.

“The jockey read the race to a tee and he said, if he went for him any sooner, he mightn’t have got him. A win is a win and we’ll probably go for something similar now in three or four weeks.”

Improver off the mark

Pat McCormack was another owner-breeder to register a winner, as Moudan (3/1) landed the Limerick Races On 13th March Handicap Hurdle for trainer Ciaran Murphy and jockey Eoin Walsh.

Walsh raced Moudan prominently throughout and, on the run-in, held A Nod To Getaway by three and a half lengths. Trainer Murphy reported: “He is a grand horse, has met a few nice types along the way and I know he is six, but has strengthened this year and has taken time.

“The form of his recent runs has worked out and today was his day. We’ll have fun with him and I don’t think the handicapper will punish us too much, so we’ll try and win another hurdle before going over fences.

“He is owned by his breeder Pat McCormack, who is local and very loyal to us. He also has Soldante with me and I’m thrilled for him.

A keeper for O’Keeffe

The Charles Byrnes-trained On Your Way (15/8) landed the Limerick Novice Handicap Hurdle by a head under Sean O’Keeffe, in the colours of Byrnes Bloodstock Limited.

The winner battled well to edge past The Dancing Tree close home, with trainer Byrnes reporting: “I had intended staying over fences after his run at Cork the last day, but when I was making entries, I saw there was only a small entry for this, so stuck him in.

“He ran away with Philip (Byrnes, son) here during Christmas and tried to do the same today, but Sean (O’Keeffe) seems to be able to handle him and manage him better. Philip has had bad falls from him, so he is Sean’s ride if he wants him. He’ll run in whatever pops up next.”