TEENAGE jockey Paddy Hanlon secured the second double of his fledgling career aboard Mr Sundancer for his father, Shark Hanlon, and on Harry Smyth’s Portnacoo.

Mr Sundancer (13/2) contested the Ulster Carpets Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles and one furlong and made headway for Hanlon racing to the final flight. Once the pair popped it, they soon took over in the straight and climbed the hill well to score by five lengths for Miss Rachel O’Neill and John C Hurley.

Trainer Hanlon said: “He didn’t settle in Wexford and I put the hood on him today, and it made an awful difference. I thought Paddy was good on him - when they were all going for home, he stayed sitting and gave him every chance to fill up his lungs.”

Doubled up

Hanlon doubled up aboard Portnacoo (15/2) who was having his second run for Harry Smyth’s stable in the My Pension Expert Handicap Hurdle having switched from Jamie Sloan.

The six-year-old gelding grabbed his first career success by a whopping 17 lengths after hitting the front before the penultimate hurdle. He was strong on the lengthy run-in as he drew further clear for Hanlon.

Owner/trainer Smyth said: “A three grand horse! My horses tend to like here and I like here as well! I didn’t know what to think - he was so good at Sligo (fifth), but that was only six days ago. I thought it might have been too soon.”

Powerful

Joseph O’Brien’s Prairie Dancer put in a power-packed finish to get up in the final stride of the C Russell Auto Sales Beginners Chase over an extended two miles and three furlongs.

The 15/8 shot looked to have plenty on his plate in third at the foot of the hill, however, he responded gamely to Conor Stone-Walsh’s urgings to fly up the hill and collar Watch The Weather by a neck for owners Sean Sweeney and Kieran O’Hare.

Stone-Walsh said: “He stays well, but he likes being in front so I was trying to get a good start and be as handy as I could without forcing him. He travelled brilliantly and jumped great bar one or two.

Stone-Walsh picked up a three-day suspension for frequency with the whip. Meanwhile, Hanlon, who was on runner-up Watch The Weather was handed a 16-day ban for his fourth offence in relation to frequency with the whip. The same sanction was given to Carl Millar who partnered third-placed Air Drop.

PHILIP Rothwell’s Ricky Langford (18/1) was a notable winner of the Download The New Tote App Handicap Chase for jockey Conor Owens.

The 10-year-old gelding, owned by the Kings Horses Syndicate, picked it up four out and stayed on well to see off Sadies Diamond by five and a half lengths.

Owens said: “It’s my first winner over fences. I’ve seven winners over hurdles, so that is eight overall now. He was game.

“When the rain came, I was slightly worried about my chances. I got here very early because I got a lift up with Tiernan (Power Roche) who also rides for Philip.

“I had lots of time to walk the track and I found a lovely patch of ground albeit out very wide, and I pulled him out onto it going out on the last lap and he just completely lit up with me. He started travelling, doing everything easily.”

Approaching victory

Intense Approach (4/6 favourite) added to his two bumper victories when he landed the Randox Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles and five furlongs for owner Ms Caroline Ahearn.

This was his third run over flights with a best finish of runner-up over the same extended two miles and five-furlong trip at Downpatrick just over a fortnight ago.

Alex Harvey sent him on two out and the duo moved clear on the run-in to sail in by a widening 15 lengths from Stormbreaker.

Trainer John McConnell said: “He has been very slow to learn and Ger Fox schooled him at the weekend and Ger couldn’t believe how he hadn’t got the hang of it. When he left him alone at a hurdle, he still needs a lot of help. It is a mental thing with him and hopefully he is switched on now.”

CHART Topper made a winning debut over flights for Willie Mullins in the AJC Group Maiden Hurdle.

Patrick Mullins did the steering on the five-year-old gelding who tracked throughout. They took over before the last and ran away from their rivals by 25 lengths at 7/4 in the colours of Mrs J M Mullins.

Jockey Mullins said:  “He came out of my hands at the first, but after that he popped away lovely. He’s more inclined to pop than have a crack at them. He is very clever rather than brave, but nothing wrong with that.”

Calahill made the best way home from the sixth fence in the Glenallen Homes Handicap Chase over an extended two miles and three furlongs.

He forged on nicely in the hands of Carl Millar to win by a length and three-quarters at 11/2 despite a mistake at the last.

Owner/trainer Cian Collins said: “I thought maybe two miles, six furlongs is his trip, but I just thought they weren’t getting home there today so it might work out in his favour.

“The plan was to go back point-to-pointing, but he’s after winning now so we will maybe keep him on the track. We’ll see how he goes.”