THERE were some big-priced winners at Kilbeggan last Friday and the feature event on the card saw Good As Hell bounce back to form to score at 33/1.

The Philip Fenton-trained mare had failed to complete on her previous two outings but came with a well-timed charge to land the spoils in the two-and-a-half mile Kilsaran Handicap Chase.

She jumped to the front over the last, under Niall Moore, and kept on well in the closing stages to post a length-and-three-quarter victory over Sargent Lightfoot.

Moore, in the colours of James Moran, said afterwards: “She’s the best mare I’ve ever come across, she’s so honest and tough.

“We missed the start the last day, it was more my fault than anything, and she ended up clipping a heel and coming down as a result of it.

“It’s great for her to come back and win like that. She’s been some mare to me. That’s four I’ve won on her now and I’m one up on Brian Hayes so I’ll remind him of that on Monday now!”

Second success

A couple of races earlier 11-year-old Repeat That popped up at 25/1 to record his second career success, on just his second outing for Harry Kelly.

Cian Quirke held his mount up in the three-mile handicap hurdle and he travelled well to lead before the last.

The Shantou gelding was soon in command and went on to post an easy 11-length win for owner Patrick Duggan.

“When I was coming down the hill the last day in Wexford and he passed a couple of horses he started enjoying himself and took off,” said Quirke.

“He blew up coming up the hill. I knew if he could put in a run like that the next day he’d be a bit fitter.

“I knew going to the second last today it was all over, I just didn’t want to be there too soon but I hadn’t anything to bring me any further.”

Red letter day for Buckley

FINN Buckley became the latest member of his family to make an impact on the racecourse when partnering Fortune The Brave to success in the concluding Paddy Dunican Memorial Bumper.

The 16/1 shot disputed from halfway in the two-and-a-half-mile contest and was driven along to grab the lead with half-a-mile to run.

John McConnell’s charge stayed on well in the closing stages to post a two-length win over Spotthedifference.

Buckley, brother of jockeys Kieren and Tom and son of trainer Edward, said: “That’s my first winner on the track, I’ve had a few point-to-pointing.

“It means a lot to me, I’m over the moon as I was quietly dying for a winner. John is my boss and I’m in with him four days a week. He’s very good to me and has given me plenty of chances.”

Young riders

The meeting proved a really good showcase for young riders and Ethan O’Sullivan was another to shine on Marv Michael, for boss Henry de Bromhead, in the beginners’ chase.

He ‘took the bull by the horns’ when sending his mount to the front early and judged the pace well as the 4/1 shot went on to record an easy seven-length win.

Stable representative Robbie Power said: “It was a very good performance. He’s schooled super at home and he’s always been a very good jumper.

“Ethan was brave and gave him a positive ride. To be fair he got his fractions right and gave him a good breather at the right time. He finished with plenty of horse.

“It’s great for the lads (Marv Michael Syndicate). They hit the crossbar a few times with him so for him to win his last couple is great.”

Sunshine brightens the day for Cleary-Farrell

SEAN Cleary-Farrell was another 7lb claimer that got on the scoresheet aboard Hey Sunshine in the opening Sean Hughes Memorial Maiden Hurdle.

The Willie Mullins-trained mare went to post an 11/4 shot on her jumping debut and was produced with a strong surge to lead over the last and record a five-and-a-half length win.

Aubrey McMahon, representing the owning combination of Temple Bloodstock and the Hey Sunshine Syndicate, said afterwards: “It’s a nice start, she’s a lovely mare and is improving with every run. Sean gave her a lovely ride.

“It’s a good result for Victory Connolly, who we are leasing her off. The full-sister is after winning five times so we were lucky that he let us lease her. She’ll be kept on the go and will probably get a break when the ground turns real winter heavy. We’d be delighted to have her back for next spring and summer.”

In the other maiden hurdle on the card, over two-miles-three, Pray Tell justified his short price in fine style. The 4/5 favourite travelled well to lead three from home for John Shinnick, and he could afford to ease down late on to score by 15 lengths.

Trainer Des Kenneally said: “I was worried about the trip, I dropped him back a lot, but I said I’d take a chance.

“He won well, he’s a lovely horse. We might go for another hurdle, we’ll see how he comes out of this. He got boxed in at Galway and Philip (Enright) said to me that the next day he’d take beating. He’s a three-miler really.”

Lad makes it three

Presenting Lad completed his hat-trick with a game performance in the Pat Doyle Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

The Mark McNiff-trained gelding came into the two-miler off the back of two chase wins last month and went to post a 7/1 shot. Kevin Sexton produced his mount to lead over the last and he clung on as The Dasher Conway rallied to get within a head at the line.

The stewards had a look after he came close with the runner-up on the run-in but the result stood.

“I was worried about the ground, it was a wee bit slower than what his best would be on,” said McNiff. “We’ve had that much rain all summer you wouldn’t know what way the weather is going to be.

“We could have a dry autumn. He’s fresh and well so we’ll keep him going if the weather lets us.”