GAVIN Cromwell was the star of the show at Bellewstown’s first meeting of the year as he notched a treble in the first three races on the card.

Pinot Gris was a warm order at 2/5 to account for his rivals in the opening Veterinary Clinic Ratoath Maiden Hurdle and he dominated them off the front.

Keith Donoghue sent him on from flagfall and he was far from extended in moving clear after two out to beat Leitzel by 11 lengths.

Cromwell said of Basil Holian’s grey: “The cheekpieces helped him as he races a little bit lazily.

“A little bit of nicer ground helped as well, it was very deep ground the last day at Cork. I’m not saying he needs good ground, but deep winter ground is probably a little too much for him.”

Cromwell quickly added to those gains in the BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle when bottom weight Club Manager scored at 11/1 under Sean Flanagan.

The four-year-old, twice a winner on the level for Andrew Balding, was making his first appearance in a handicap hurdle and came from a long way back to defeat Mary’s Pride by a length and three quarters.

Cromwell said of the Nathaniel gelding, who is owned by Anna Mary Kehoe and the Cloud Eight Syndicate: “Aubrey McMahon bought him and he was well bought. He jumped better and Sean gave him a lovely ride. He took his time and they went very fast.

“Sean gave him a chance and he had loads of room because they were so spread out. He came home to good effect.”

Bonnie brings treble

Me Wee Bonnie Lass completed the Cromwell treble and enhanced her own record to three from four when finishing strongly in the Good Enuf To Eat Catering Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The 9/2 chance stayed on for Keith Donoghue, who was posting a double, to challenge at the last and she got the measure of front-running Jolie Coeur Allen on the run-in.

First Dare finished well in second but was a length and a quarter adrift of the Mark Coleman-owned winner at the line.

Cromwell, also on the mark at Gowran’s flat card on the same day, said: “She’s a likeable mare with a good attitude and she was actually quite green there today. I think it is only her fourth run of her life and you’d forget that.

“She’s going the right way and has won on heavy as well. It is great for the owners, they only live down in Duleek.”

THEFLYINGBEE (11/8 favourite) was a popular winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle.

Trained by Finbarr Hand, for his wife near Navan, the Morozov mare raced close to the pace and led two out. Pressed at the last by the staying-on Kemjoy, she was left clear when that one fell and stayed on well under Danny Mullins to beat Drumgill by three and a quarter lengths.

Finbarr Hand said: “Danny said there was a lot more to come because she was so raw through the race. He said we will have plenty of fun through the summer.”

McCarthy strike

The David McKeown A1 Generators Handicap Hurdle produced a dramatic finish with 40/1 outsider Ma Hoey gaining victory under Gary Noonan.

Trained for Sean Maguire by Eoin McCarthy, the daughter of Mahler moved past front-running favourite O’Faolains Glory after the second last. Get It Right covered the move on the outer and headed Ma Hoey narrowly approaching the last only to make a shocking blunder at that final obstacle. That left Ma Hoey in front and she stayed on well to beat O’Faolains Glory by two lengths, with Get it Right coming home in third.

With McCarthy on lead-up duties, Noonan commented: “They are there to be jumped. She was idling a bit up the straight and I think she had a little bit up her sleeve, so I wasn’t overly worried.

“She couldn’t really handle the heavy ground - better ground, two and a half miles and cheekpieces on all helped.”

THERE was another turn up for the books in the Pat And Eddie Smith Memorial Handicap Hurdle which was won by 25/1 chance Killinure Lass.

Running for the first time since New Year’s Day, Conor McNamara really got her rolling down to the last and she swept to the front on the run-in to beat Milk Market by a length and three quarters.

Eric McNamara, who trains the winner for the Oyster Boys Syndicate, said: “I thought there would be plenty of improvement in her but she did it nicely, it fell into her lap well. I’m delighted and pleasantly surprised.”

Lucky in the last

Well-bred newcomer Withabitofluk (7/2) took the Awardsandgifts.ie (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race for Henry de Bromhead and John Gleeson.

Roger Brookhouse’s homebred came from the back of the field to dispute the lead with Addragoole a furlong and a half out. In a dramatic incident, favourite Jersey Des Brosses, a close third but seemingly held at the time, crashed out through the rail at the road crossing 150 yards from the post when finding himself a little short of room on the inner but horse and jockey Harry Swan were okay.

Gleeson’s mount found a bit more off the bridle than Addragoole to score by half a length. Stable representative Robbie Power said: “For a Bellewstown bumper, I’d say it was a very hot race. John gave him a lovely ride. He was green and will improve plenty for that.”