MICHAEL O’Sullivan partnered his first winners since returning from injury when bagging a double at Kilbeggan on Monday night.

Last season’s champion conditional had only returned a week prior from a broken collarbone suffered at this track in April.

He returned to the winner’s enclosure aboard Ranger Billy in the first division of the three-mile handicap hurdle.

The Eoin Doyle-trained gelding went to post 4/1 joint favourite and travelled well to lead two from home.

He shook off the attentions of True Destiny in the closing stages to record a length-and-a-quarter win in the colours of owner Christina Hughes.

“Over the winter he wasn’t going on the heavier ground. We changed a few things at home and started training him outside, he seems to have turned the corner a bit now,” said Doyle.

“He was running well enough in races but just wasn’t getting home, over shorter trips. It seems that he’s in his comfort zone over three miles.

“He seems to be well handicapped and should get another one of those over the summer.”

Double complete

O’Sullivan completed his double when teaming up with the Willie Mullins-trained Uncle Phil in the Belvedere House & Gardens Opportunity Beginners Chase.

The 5/2 shot made most of the running in the two miles and three contest and went clear after the second last for an easy 13-length success over stablemate Winter Fog.

Patrick Mullins said afterwards: “This track suited him much better, a flatter track. He jumps fantastic and he’s going to be a much better chaser than he was a hurdler. He’s starting to settle a bit better as well.”

The success of Joe Donnelly’s gelding had given the Mullins yard a quick double as Space Tourist had also proven an easy winner of the preceding mares’ hurdle.

Sean Cleary-Farrell charted a wide course on the 6/4 favourite, who led from the fifth flight.

The Jet Away mare went clear from two out for an effortless 41-length win over Media Naranja.

“It’s great for Sean. He’s a real hard worker and a good rider. He’s full-time in our yard and deserves all the opportunities he gets,” said Patrick Mullins.

“She’s a good mare and we might look to Galway now and see if we can get blacktype with her.

“The owners (Yorkshire Rose Syndicate) got up at 3.30am this morning to come over from Leeds so they’ll be happy.”

A 200/1 shocker

UNKLIPPED left her previous form well behind when striking at 200/1 in the opening amateur rider maiden hurdle. It was a first ‘track’ winner for Cal Shine as he produced his mount to lead before the last and record a two and a half length win in the two miler.

Trainer Denis Leahy was pleasantly surprised and said: “(Owner) Heather (Buckle) came over from England today to see her run.

“The last day we were very disappointed, she just put up no performance. We just thought she needed to be ridden more positively.

“Obviously it was a surprise. I told Heather all winter that we have a mare that’s well capable but things just need to click. Cal gave her a great ride and it’s what she needed.

In contrast Minella Mate was the shortest-priced winner on the card when scoring at odds-on in the concluding bumper.

John Gleeson was to the fore throughout on the 4/5 shot and he rallied gamely to see off Captain’s Pick by three quarters of a length.

“He’s tough, he’s a Shantou and they keep battling,” said owner/trainer John Nallen. “John gave him a great ride and he stuck at it. He got knocked a little when we schooled him and we just had to take our time. If he’s not sold, it’s grand to get a day out with one too. We loaded up whoever was around in the hotel at 4.30am and came on here.”

Pakens Rock pounces late

ONLY six went to post in the Galway Plate Trial and it was Pakens Rock who swooped under his low weight to land the spoils in the €21,000 contest.

The Dara Man led them for most of the two miles and three trip but was collared late on as Daniel King got a good tune from Barry Murphy’s charge to score by half a length. A 10/3 winner, Pakens Rock, owned by Raymond Healy, is unlikely to line up in the feature at Galway and Murphy said: “He’s won four times in Galway but he might even be tight to get into the Blazers. I’ve two horses so I’m happy to have a winner.”

It was a card that saw some veterans back to form and 13-year-old Dorans River returned to winning ways with a convincing success in the second division of the three-mile handicap hurdle.

James O’Sullivan led after the second last on the 8/1 shot and he stayed on strongly in the closing stages to post a three and three-quarter length win.

Thrilled

“I’m thrilled, he’s a lovely old horse,” said Philip Rothwell, who trains the winner for Tom Doran. “We gave him a break when I got him as he had a few little things. I get a great amount of pleasure out of seeing an old horse like that running well. We’ll run him away on summer ground and he might get retired come the winter.”

Streets Of Doyen was another to recapture some of his old form when running out a fortuitous winner of the €22,000 Paul & Carmel Fay Memorial Handicap Hurdle. Tom Gibney’s charge looked booked for third as My Design and Macgiloney fought it out going to the last flight in the three-miler.

Both crashed out independently at the final flight though and Street Of Doyen was there to pick up the pieces for owner Caroline Ahearn. Kieran Callaghan kept the 15/2 shot going on the run-in to record a two and a quarter-length win over Waitnsee.

“You can’t beat a bit of luck!” said Gibney. “I didn’t know what was going to happen with this fella as he would have a mind of his own. I was just delighted to see him travelling, this was a lovely pot.”