CHARLES and Philip Byrnes teamed up for a treble on the bank holiday card at Downpatrick.

Dubeyeracingcraic started the ball rolling in the opening A J C Group Maiden Hurdle. The four-year-old filly was backed down to 2/1 favourite and dominated once she picked up the lead after the first flight. She was kept up to her work to score by two lengths for owner Patrick M O’Shea.

Trainer Byrnes said: “She just found them going a bit quick in Tramore the last day and she learned a lot from that, she was sharper today. She was (game up the hill) and she had a look alright, but she won. She is handicapped on the Flat, so she is a nice dual-purpose sort.

Next up was Reverend Hubert (8/11 - 8/15 favourite) in The Ulster Carpets Maiden Hurdle. This prominent racer took over after four out and began to move clear at the penultimate flight. The Zoffany gelding increased the margin at the last hurdle and strolled home by eight and a half lengths for owner James M Flaherty.

Byrnes said: “He loves jumping, jumping is the secret to him. He’s a horse that doesn’t do a stroke at home. The hurdles just set him alight, he absolutely loves it.

“We might have a look at something in England, the October meeting in Cheltenham could be a possibility. We like to travel with the horses.”

Grozni (7/2) sealed the treble in The Dennison Commercials Opportunity Beginners Steeplechase over an extended two miles three furlongs after coming from an unpromising position.

He could make no impression on the front pair after two out, but stuck at it and got a scent of victory at the bottom of the hill on the run-in.

The seven-year-old gelding stayed on best between horses to grab the lead in the final 100 yards and won going away by three and three quarter lengths in Cathal Byrnes’ colours.

“They went a proper gallop,” Charles Byrnes said. “The plan was to try and make it but sure he couldn’t get there early. I think the front two softened up one another and made it easy for him after the last.

“He stays three miles so I felt if he could hang in there at all, he would have a squeak coming up the hill. He’s in Doncaster Sales. I don’t know whether he will go or not, I wouldn’t want to lose him.”

ANYWAY attracted the attention of the stewards after an emphatic success in the Philip McBurney Racing Handicap Hurdle. The Ken Budds-trained five-year-old left previous form in the rear-view mirror when powering eight and a half lengths clear for the trainer’s father Paddy after sweeping through to lead on the run-in.

Jockey Michael O’Sullivan who came in for the ride, said: “First and foremost mention Donagh Meyler, he was hurt in Killarney on Saturday so my thoughts are with him and hopefully he will be back soon.

“Lovely performance. I’m very grateful to Ken for picking up the spare ride. He thought he had learned a lot. If you look at his last couple of runs in Punchestown and Wexford, the penny was slowly dropping with him.

“I just had to keep him up to his work today, he was still green and lugging around a bit. When he got the daylight, the loose horse helped me up the hill. He won nicely and hopefully he will improve again.”

Anyway was available at 28/1 in the morning and went off even-money favourite after the withdrawal of Hollys Honour and the Charles Byrnes-trained Karloss.

The stewards enquired into the improvement shown by Anyway and Budds advised that the horse is lazy and benefitted from cheekpieces.

He further stated that he had the horse more than eight months, his father Paddy owns him and that he was bought from Charles Byrnes.

The stewards also enquired into the withdrawal of Karloss and Byrnes stated that the horse slipped in the trailer and sweated up en route to the course, and that he was brought back to his yard by his owners who were travelling behind.

Both matters were referred by the raceday stewards to a senior racing official for further investigation.

DAVID Christie’s Paidi’s Passion (11/2) survived an early stumble in The Randox Handicap Hurdle to score by a length and three quarters in the hands of Jordan Gainford.

She made headway three out and led at the next before keeping on best in the colours of Sean Gerard Duke.

Christie said: “She ran a great race in Roscommon over a trip that was far too short, all she does is gallop and stays. That’s about her optimum trip especially with the hill.

“After Roscommon, we discovered that she had a big cyst on her ovary and we had to get that sorted out.”

Gainford doubled up aboard Gordon Elliott’s Irish Blaze (13/2) in The A J C Group Handicap Chase.

Top Line Tommy was two lengths clear at the last, but departed there and Irish Blaze finished well to claim Berliet Express in the closing stages.

After his victory by a length and a quarter for the Pony Sopranos Syndicate, Elliott said: “He had a good run the last day at Wexford that we were very happy with, so thankfully today was our day. He wasn’t always finishing out well, but he finished out strong there.”

Shark Hanlon’s Padraic’s Choice (16/1) put in an exhibition of jumping in The Dennison JCB Handicap Chase over an extended two miles three furlongs.

The 16/1 shot made virtually all for Jody McGarvey and had plenty in hand on the run-in as he scored by five lengths for Paddy Meany.

Hanlon said: “He’s a very good jumper and he got his own way and, if he didn’t get his own way, it wouldn’t have been the same result. He just needs to get his own way. He loves the good ground.”