AURORA Vega is set for a shot at the top level after her success in the SBK Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse last Saturday. The daughter of legendary mare Quevega took her tally over timber to three with an impressive performance in the Grade 3 contest.

Paul Townend was prominent for most of the two-mile-two trip on the 85/40 favourite and she struck for home before the second last.

The Walk In The Park filly asserted before the final flight and always looked in control from there as Dream On Baby kept on in second, a length and three quarters back.

“It looked like a big improvement to me, I was really taken by that performance,” said Willie Mullins afterwards.

“I thought she’d come on a lot from the last day, I wasn’t expecting that out of her. She looked like one that you’d maybe want to keep for the Grade 1 mares’ hurdle here at Easter. That would be foremost in my mind at the moment.”

Quick-fire

There was a quick double for Closutton in the following SBK Maiden Hurdle as Kawaboomga got the better of William Munny in the closing stages of the two-miler.

Mark Walsh produced the 11/10 favourite to challenge at the last and despite not being fluent here the J.P. McManus-owned gelding finished off best to record a length and a half success.

“He did that very well, he improved nicely for the experience in Leopardstown,” said Mullins.

“He’s entered in all those novice hurdles at Cheltenham but looking at that performance and listening to Mark, I’d think we’d be looking at the Turners or the Albert Bartlett. I think the Turners would look to me where I’d like to be going at this point in time.”

Defeating the Enemy

McManus had his own double later on the card when Well Dressed landed his own race, the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, for Eddie and Patrick Harty.

Cian Cullinan did the steering on the 6/1 shot and the Westerner mare travelled well to lead after the third last in the two-miler.

She scooted clear before the final flight to post an easy eight-and-a-half-length win over Arch Enemy. “That was nice. Two miles suited,” said Harty senior.

“We were a bit disappointed with her in Navan, she came there with a great chance but she faded. She didn’t get home. It looked like a weak-ish race. It was nice to give Cian a winner, he rides out for us. He rode her nicely, he has a nice pair of hands.

“She’ll probably go up more than she deserves and we’ll just look for something else.”

DON’T Talk bagged a quick follow win in the opening SBK Handicap Chase for trainer Karl Thornton. The Jukebox Jury gelding had won at Down Royal the previous Tuesday and showed no ill effects just four days later.

Donagh Meyler led after two out on the 4/1 shot and he stayed on well in the closing stages to beat Champagne Mahler by a length and a quarter.

“That was great, it’s been a good week’s work with him,” Thornton said of Gary Ryan’s gelding.

“He showed a bit of boot there today. He’s better on softer ground. Two or two and a half miles doesn’t seem to bother him.”

Another horse to record back-to-back victories on the card was the Padraig Roche-trained One Horse Army.

The Mahler gelding had won a week previously at Navan and went to post an easy-to-back 17/2 shot to follow up.

Aidan Kelly led over the last and his mount kept on gamely to see off Brandt by three-parts of a length. “It’s grand that he’s won again,” said Roche.

“He stays and he jumps. We’ll keep going with him now and find something similar if we can. He wants soft ground and a staying trip.”

A RECENT link-up with US-based owner John Breslin reaped rewards for Cian Collins as Leah’s Contessa opened her account in the CCR Raceday Maiden Hurdle.

The Califet mare went to post a 5/1 shot in the two-and-a-half-mile ‘unplaced’ contest and travelled nicely to lead before the last for Tiernan Power Roche.

She survived a mistake at the final flight and stayed on well in the closing stages to score by a length and a quarter from I Ballyadam Moon.

“I thought she might be doing a bit too much during the race, she didn’t settle very well but she still found plenty off it and it was a nice performance,” said Collins. On the mistake at the last he added: “I’d say she was just getting lonely in front, she’s never jumped a hurdle in front on her own before.

“That’s my first winner for John. I met him in Galway last year and he said he’d give me a couple of horses. She’s the only horse that I’ve run for him. He bred it himself so he’s delighted. It’s nice to see a home-bred winning for him. She’s only a handy filly but she’s hardy.”

Hot streak

Declan Queally is enjoying a purple patch and claimed another bumper when I’ll Sort That ran out a game winner of the finale on the card.

The Sandmason gelding was held up before coming with a strong surge in the straight. The 11/1 shot fought it out with Theflyingking, getting the best of him close home for a neck success.

“A lot of the credit has to go to Pat Crowley. He bought the horse for three grand at the July Sale, himself and David (Needham). He did all the work with him and he schooled him,” said Queally.

“David sent him over to us three months ago. We gave him a run in Cork, he made a bit of a mistake but came home nicely. His work has improved and I said to David ‘this is a fairly good horse’. He worked with Mozzies Sister and we said we’d go back for a bumper. He’s 17 hands and his mother won nine on the flat.”