JACK Hendrick enjoyed a memorable day at Tinahely on Sunday as he rode his initial career treble, having previously never even partnered a double. The Mayglass native got the afternoon off to the perfect start in the opening four-year-old maiden as he partnered the Cormac Doyle-trained newcomer Idalko Bihoue (2/1) to victory in dramatic fashion.

The son of Balko tracked the leader Mount Slemish for much of the contest before taking up the running after jumping the fourth last obstacle.

He was joined early in the straight by Playtogetway and they had Genietoile just behind them, when both those rivals crashed out independently at the penultimate fence. Their departure left the Monbeg Farm Partnership-owned gelding to finish alone.

The winning handler was nevertheless pleased with his charges performance as he said: “It’s a pity the two horses fell at the second last, but Jack (Hendrick) said he was only getting going when the other two horses fell. He’s been going well at home and he’s one of the nicer ones. He’ll be sold now.”

Desmond double

Hendrick brought up a double on the card in the winners of two contest, as he partnered Earl Of Desmond (7/2 - 2/1 joint-favourite) to success for his great-uncle Billy Codd.

The seven-year-old was always in the first half of the field and joined the leader before the second last before going on before the last and extending his advantage to a widening eight and a half lengths at the line over Garm Colombe.

The son of Presenting was following up on his maiden victory at Carrigarostig five weeks previously. The winning handler’s son, Jamie, was unsure of future plans for the gelding, who is owned by Galway-based Basil Holian, though it is likely that the chesnut gelding will remain pointing for now.

JACK Hendrick rounded off his treble when combining with absent Clonroche-based handler Robert Tector to take the concluding six-year-old and upwards maiden, courtesy of Killybegs Junior (6/1 - 4/1).

Always prominent under Hendrick, the six-year-old took up the running on the run to the final obstacle as he went on to record a five-length victory over Legacy Of Dreams.

The George Murphy-owned son of Court Cave had run five times under rules before joining Tector, for whom his first run was at Ballyvodock four weeks before this where he finished third and he appears to have taken a significant step forward.

Hendrick said: “He was third in Ballyvodock and has improved loads for that run, he’s starting to enjoy his job now. He’ll probably go for a winners’ race next. Robert (Tector) has been doing a great job lately and his horses are in fine form.”

There was drama in novice riders’ open as the five-runner field was reduced to just three when the odds-on favourite Its All Guesswork was carried out by the loose Vis Ta Loi at fence four.

Ultimately it was the Catherine Murphy-owned Lough Derg Spirit (7/2 - 4/1), who led after the third last under Conor Smithers, that ran out and easy 16-length winner over the consistent Pallaskenry.

The now 10-year-old was having his start in 597 days having returned to the Denis Murphy yard. The son of Westerner won four times under rules for Nicky Henderson since winning an Athlacca four-year-old maiden for Murphy and the late Pat Coffey back in May of 2016.

Murphy explained: “Bernice (Murphy) went over to see him, and he was in good order so that’s how we ended up getting him back.

“He’ll go for another open lightweight now and if that works out the same as today, he could end up in the Aintree Foxhunters, over the national course.”

THE five-year-old-geldings’ maiden produced a thrilling finish with the front pair pulling well clear of the remainder up the straight.

Ultimately it was James Kenny who claimed a deserved victory aboard the consistent General Officer (4/1 - 5/1) by seeing off the long-time leader Captains Nephew by a neck. The Milestone Bloodstock-owned gelding, who had previously finished third at Kirkistown, was always in the first half of the field, stayed on strongly from the third last fence then hit the front on the run-in to provide Colin Bowe with an across-the-card double.

The five-year-old mares’ maiden saw Time To Rocco (3/1 - 4/1) make all to score for Delgany-native Brian Lawless at his local track.

The Colin-Motherway-trained mare had previously fallen at the second last in a very competitive four-year-old maiden at Lingstown back in December before reappearing on heavy ground at Dromahane. The daughter of Shirocco, who is owned by Ger Coleman from Clonpriest, just outside Youghal, had two lengths to spare over Getabelle at the line, having been briefly joined by Aidan Fitzgerald’s charge in the straight.

Motherway was delighted with the mare’s performance: “I always thought a lot of this mare, she was running a great race down in Lingstown in a very good maiden, she got tired and took a heavy fall at the second last. He has a good high cruising speed and she probably wants two or two and a half miles.”

Horse to Follow

Captains Nephew (C. Doyle): This debutant son of Mahler set a strong gallop in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden and was beaten by just a neck having been headed close home. He should be more than capable of atoning for this narrow defeat in the coming weeks before making his presence felt under rules.