SEAN Flanagan reached a notable career landmark when partnering his 500th winner in Ireland aboard 7/2 favourite Now So Jake in the Follow Us On Twitter Maiden Hurdle.

The Mahler gelding was prominent throughout in this three-mile event and despite getting a bit low and pecking on landing at the last, kept on well on the run-in for an easy four lengths verdict over Beaufort Scale.

Flanagan reflected back on some of his career highlights afterwards saying: “I started off with Liz Doyle when I left school and rode my first big winner for her on Penny’s Bill in the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown and I also won the same race on Ice Cold Soul for Noel (Meade).

Flagship horse

“My association with Road To Respect was fantastic. I won three Grade 1s on him, two Champion Chases at Down Royal and the Savills at Leopardstown. He was a flagship horse and carried me where I needed to go.”

“To ride my 500th winner for Harry Kelly is great as we go back a long way, and I won on the dam of this horse before for the same owner (John Palmer).

“If you put the groundwork in with the right people they will repay you but you have to keep grafting away and don’t get too far ahead of yourself.

“Hopefully there is a few more winners to come!”

Kelly said, “There wasn’t much of a gallop the last day and it turned into a sprint, so we freshened him up and Sean was excellent on him. I like this horse a lot but he’s still weak and backward. When he sees a fence he’ll be a different horse again.” The feature race on this eight-race card was also over three miles, the RBC Brewin Dolphin Hurdle, and victory went to Happy Jacky who was another to score from the front.

Featuring Happy

Trained by Mark Fahey for owner/breeder Paddy Ryan, the 10/3 shot asserted before two out to beat Beacon Edge by four and a half lengths.

The Milan gelding didn’t come back into the winner’s enclosure and rider Peter Smithers explained: “He gets a bit overheated, and Mark is down with him in the stable yard getting plenty of water on him but he’s fine. When he gets his own way in front, he’s a good horse.”

JOSH Halford was seen to great effect when giving Slieve Bearnagh a fine front-running ride in division one of the Mallow Handicap Hurdle.

The 11/2 chance, trained in partnership by Josh’s dad Mick and Tracey Collins, built up a lead of over 12 lengths before halfway and while that advantage was greatly reduced early in the straight, he kept on strongly again from the last to beat Tipp For Mac by four and three-quarter lengths.

A delighted Mick Halford said afterwards, “He got a bit idle in the straight but when he heard the other horses coming he picked up again and pinged the last.

“I’m delighted for Paul Rooney who has been a terrific owner over all the years and it’s wonderful that he’s given Josh the chances. His two rides over hurdles now have been winners and that’s his fourth winner in total. He’s enjoying it and is up in Gordon (Elliott)’s full-time and is getting a great grounding.”

Familiar victory

Contrapposto (9/2), trained by Dick Donohoe and also owned by the Gowran trainer in partnership with his cousin John, recorded his third career victory when getting on top on the run-in under Richie Deegan to beat Katzoff by a length and a quarter in division two.

“He’s so good at the jumping now which is a big help to him and Richie was very good on him and knows him well at this stage. We’ll mix it with him on the flat and he’s a fun horse,” said Donohoe.

Surprise success

If Any Man Can put up a fine front-running performance to record a 28/1 surprise on his debut under Rules in the Sign Up To Our Newsletter Maiden Hurdle.

The Mary Ellen Doyle-trained gelding was let down by his jumping when placed on the latest of two point-to-point starts this year and despite racing quite keenly in front here under Liam Quinlan, pulled out plenty on the run-in to beat In The Trenches by a length and three-quarters.

“He’s a keen going horse and I’d say the step back to two miles suited him. He was good and honest from the back of the last and did it well in the end,” said the winning rider.

THE Gordon Elliott-trained Disco Dancer, owned in partnership by Caren Walsh and Dee L’Estrange, added to a bumper win at Down Royal earlier this year when getting the better of 10/11 favourite Sionnach Eile in the two-mile Buy Tickets On Corkracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle.

The pair had the race between them from the penultimate flight and Sam Ewing’s mount proved the stronger from the last going on to score by two and a quarter lengths.

“She’s very straight forward and has probably been a bit unlucky not to win (over hurdles) before today. She’s fairly versatile between two miles and two and a half and her jumping is a big asset as well,” said Ewing of the 7/2 winner.

Queen’s success

There were plenty in contention after two out in the Follow Us On Instagram Mares Handicap Hurdle and it was Cobra Queen (17/2), trained by Henry de Bromhead for Matt Fitzgerald, that got on top on the run-in to beat Teagarden Jazz by a length and a quarter.

“She was a bit unlucky when she fell the last day but jumped well today and travelled well. She did it nicely,” said winning rider Rachael Blackmore.

Keen to win

Windbeneathmywings caused a 22/1 surprise on debut in the Declan Nurney Plays Live After Racing Flat Race.

The Free Eagle gelding took a keen hold under David Doyle pulling his way to the front around halfway and after asserting early in the straight, just held the late surge of The Last Line by a short-head.

“I love the sire and have a pile of them as Pat Smullen told me he was one of the best horses he’d ridden. He was a reasonable price for my mares, and I bought this lad for 22,000. He did everything to get himself beaten there today and when he learns to race, he’ll be a real nice horse,” said Pat Flynn who trains the gelding for his wife Catherine.