MICHAEL Hourigan ended a long losing spell on Monday as Beef Or Salmon’s trainer gained an appropriate winner at his local Listowel, with the Donal O’Connor-owned Rising Dust (9/2 joint-favourite) in the Cnoc An Oir Handicap Hurdle.

Racing behind the leaders under jockey Danny Mullins, Rising Dust led entering the home straight and finished well to beat Annie Questions by six lengths. 

Hourigan later revealed: “It has been a year but it was always going to come. This horse thinks a lot about his races and was going home after he was due to run at Punchestown but he reprieved himself. 

“He followed that run up today and, more than anything, we found a jockey to ride him. At Punchestown I asked him (Mullins) to make the running if he could, but told him to make up his own mind and to go to Plan A, B, C, D, E or F or through the alphabet if he wanted. He came in and told me he couldn’t fault the horse but a man with confidence can ride like that. I gave him no instructions today.”

Reminiscing

He added: “I won a Kerry National for his owner (Donal O’Connor) with Native Performance when he had a one-two in the race but Willie Mullins trained the runner-up. We got the better of Willie for once that day and Donal and his wife led in both horses into the winner’s enclosure and got a photo of it.”

Trainer Gordon Elliott completed a double, beginning with the Michael Hanrahan-owned Shecouldbeanything (10/3) in the opening Anglo Printers John H. Kierans (Mares) Hurdle.

Ridden by Sam Ewing, the seven-year-old mare was produced from rear to lead after the second last, eventually beating stablemate Media Naranja by four lengths.

Ewing commented: “They went a really good gallop, so I had to bide my time with her and she stayed on gamely. She is a solid mare and today showed she will definitely stay further.

“She is very versatile ground-wise, ran well in Cheltenham on soft and while she has form on every ground, that nicer ground brings out the best in her.”

Heroic winner

An hour and 10 minutes later, Elliott completed his double with the Brendan Scully-owned Heroes Rise (9/4) in the Shay Rooney Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.

A point-to-point winner on debut in February, the gelding won by seven lengths from How About No with winning jockey Carl Millar later reporting “the yard is in class form and all the summer horses are in and flying. 

“I liked this horse, he had done nothing wrong on his previous runs,;greeness probably beat him. The conditions for today’s race suited better and he travelled, settled, jumped and did everything right.”

ALL For Rachel (10/3 favourite) recorded two consecutive six and a half length monthly wins, as Oliver McKiernan’s gelding landed Listowel’s Paddy Woods Handicap Hurdle under jockey Philip Enright.

The seven-year-old son of Jet Away won similarly with ease at Punchestown on May 21st and today, while penalised 9lb, won eased down by that same six and a half lengths winning margin.

Kiernan said: “It took the penny a while to drop with this fella and it was his first time to win at Punchestown the last day. He loves to be dropped in, kept on the outside and to come with a run but we’re only learning it now after three or four years!

“He had lots of little issues but the main thing is he is enthusiastic and that is probably what it boils down to. Most of my other horses will be going out now but we’ll use him now for the summer.

“He has good size and can jump a fence as well.”

Bobby is best

Our Bobby (11/1) registered a third career win, in the John Thomas McNamara Handicap Hurdle, as the John Burke-trained, Elaine Burke-owned gelding scored under jockey Eoin Walsh.

Trainer Burke was on lead-up duty and afterwards jockey Walsh said: “The ground is well watered and they have done a lovely job and while the ground is chopped up on the inside, this lad likes having some room and doesn’t like being crowded.

“His jumping can be hit-and-miss but when he sees them, he is better off.

“He ran a bit fresh and with the choke out the last day but it left him right for today. He sees out that trip well, it is great for the Burkes who are great supporters of mine and with a small team, they do well.”

THE John Queally-trained Jet Setting Jim (9/2) defied a bumper-winners’ penalty when landing the Join Listowel Races Supporters Maiden Hurdle, under jockey Michael O’Sullivan.

The seven-year-old raced prominently throughout to defeat runner-up Pahlavi by one and a quarter lengths. 

Queally stated: “He had a bumper winners’ penalty to carry but that bit of nice ground wouldn’t bother him. He is a big chaser in the making. Finbarr Walsh, from Riverstick near Kinsale owns him and we didn’t think beyond today.”

Redemption for Verte

The concluding bumper was won by the Willie Mullins-trained, Patrick Mullins-partnered La Note Verte (2/1 favourite), which improved on a disappointing debut run to score for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Jockey Mullins elected to race wide and in the home straight the Australia-sired filly quickened clear to beat Pure Logic by six and a half lengths.

The winning rider reported: “She hated the ground first-time out and is a real summer mare. She is not very big, is light-boned and will run away during the summer.”

He added: “I think as racing went on today, they were going wider and wider and with no chases and six hurdle races, it was getting more chewed up than normal. There was no pace, she was fit and had a run so I decided to go on and it worked out. 

“I think there is a bit more there with her and I imagine she will go jumping now, although she might strengthen up with a break so we’ll see what Willie thinks.”