LIMERICK’S National Hunt fixture had to survive a morning inspection and was passed fit with good to yielding (watered) going but again had a huge amount (29) of non runners.

Paul Nolan maintained his good recent run of form when 9/4 joint-favourite Farfromnowhere, under Sean O’Keeffe, took the McMahons Builders Providers Mares Maiden Hurdle over two miles and three furlongs to make it three wins.

The Shirocco mare was travelling best of the trio of Disco Dancer and Cast A Spell into the straight, and despite small hesitations at the last two obstacles, she never looked likely to be overhauled, winning by five and a quarter lengths for owners David Flynn and J R Brennan.

Nolan reported: “She is a good mare to have and we bought her after winning her point-to-point for Colin Bowe and she came recommended by Barry O’Neill.

“Sean (O’Keeffe) said she was keen early-on and only gave herself a chance to settle between the last two hurdles. I loved the way she went to the line.

“We waited for better ground for her bumper and while I’m not saying she won’t handle softer ground, Bowe said not to run on winter ground.”

Monaghan lads

Anthony McCann took the Free Streaming All Racing At Tote.ie Handicap Hurdle over two miles and six furlongs with the Drumlin Dreams Syndicate’s Grace Faraday (11/2).

The winner, Sammy Smart and Balinaboola Steel had it between them coming into the straight and it was the McCann mare who took it up from Sammy Smart before the last and kept on best to hold that one by a length and a half.

McCann said afterwards: “Finally she has won, and thankfully the lads have stuck with her. They got her on a free lease and it has paid off now.

“Twice this year she didn’t run well for me but she loves it around here for some unknown reason and doesn’t like going left-handed.

“I’m glad to get her in front for the lads and also for the breeder (Edward Collins). The lads are all from Monaghan, there are eight in the syndicate and this is their first horse.”

Widest margin

The concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race over two miles and half a furlong produced the widest margin winner of the evening when Declan Queally trained and rode the Getaway mare Long Gone to an eight and a half-length win.

She had been 50/1 when third in what looked a decent mares’ maiden hurdle and she was well-backed here at 10/3.

“I got in contact with Gilmer (Bates, owner) through Jonathan Birkmore and Danny Fitzsimmons in the north who have horses with me.

“We had this mare entered at a sale last week but felt we might be ‘penalised’ for not having gone for a bumper so I said to Gilmer that he would be mad to sell her.

“She is a smart mare, probably does a bit more on the track than at home and we’ll see what Gilmer wants to do.”

THE second last provided the drama in the opening Download The New Tote App Claiming Hurdle over two miles and half a furlong.

The winner Kendancer (15/8 joint-favourite) and Philip Byrnes had just moved into contention coming to the hurdle but his task was made easier when the fractional leader Tom McGreevy over-jumped and came down bringing down the early leader Shabra and causing Sefton Warrior to also unseat.

“He was in for €10,000 at Clonmel the last day but wasn’t competitive so we said we’d drop him (to €5,000),” Charles Byrnes said.

“He (Philip) said he was fierce guessy at his hurdles but we got the winner and the owners had a few quid on so we’re all happy.” There was a friendly claim in for the winner from his trainer.

J.J Slevin was given an eight-day suspension as raceday stewards found him in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly on the run to the second last, where it appeared Mill House Creek manoeuvred left interfering with Artic Gale and Drumgill.

Better luck

There was better luck for young rider Paddy Hanlon in the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle (IRE Incentive Race) over two miles and half a furlong.

Half A Chance came through on the inner to lead before two out, and shaken up and clear after the last, pushed out and kept on well to hold Field A Thistles by a length and three-quarters for owners Tlicn Syndicate.

Hanlon said: “Paddy tries hard and with the bumpers at the moment, Willie (Mullins) is winning 95% of them so no lad gets a chance. I have plenty of horses at home, they will give him plenty of experience.

“He was 17 the day before yesterday and got his licence on his birthday and finished third on his first ride as a professional. He recently went over to England to Charlie and Francesca Poste where he learned a lot.

“He did plenty pony racing, won the Dingle Derby and was the first Irish lad to win the Scottish Championship.”

He added: “The horse had form, ran well here in a bumper and I’m delighted for the syndicate which I put together after doing a Cheltenham preview night in England. They are an English group so we’ll have to go there at some stage to run him.”

Hand it to Hanlon on the line

THE best finish of the evening came in the Tote, Never Beaten By SP Handicap Hurdle over two miles and three furlongs when Paddy Hanlon got his father John’s Seasett (11/1) up by a nose on the line to bring up a 311/1 double.

The winner was only in fourth place at the second last and Cullenwaine looked to be holding him up the run-in. But Hanlon persevered and got Seasett’s head in front on the line to win for the Eventmasters Limited

Hanlon said: “His owner Mark Sheasby got a touch out of this horse when he won for Paddy at Cartmel and I told him that he wouldn’t be out of the first two today.

“I thought Paddy was very good as he hadn’t much room but was very strong on him. He rode a very clever race and for a young lad. You can’t beat the ‘flapping’ (pony racing) as it absolutely crowned him as he learned so much.

“Paddy has six rides for me at Listowel on Saturday and, as he knows all the horses from being at home.”

Hanlon must have had hopes of a big priced treble as Phoenix Cowboy led into the straight in the Tote.ie Handicap Hurdle over two miles and three furlongs but there were still eight in with a chance.

It was Missus Beeton (11/2) and Shane Fitzgerald though who were travelling best and she took it up off the leader before the last and had too much in hand to go on and win by three-quarters of a length for Shane Nolan.

The favourite The Mass Path stayed on for third.

Nolan said: “That was great as John (Clarke) and Kieran (Corrigan, part-owner) have been patient with her and it’s a pity they couldn’t be here today.

“We also have her full-brother Mister Beeton who has won two races, and while this mare hasn’t much size, she has plenty of heart and jumps well. I thought, off her mark, she should win. She might win another one hopefully.”