CHAMPION Hurdle-placed Zanahiyr’s half-sister Zaynab made a winning jumps debut at Listowel on Sunday for the same connections as the Gordon Elliott-trained filly landed the festival-opening Charleville Cheese 3-Y-O Hurdle for owner Bective Stud.

A Guineas weekend winner last May, Zaynab (2/1 joint-favourite) was ridden by Sam Ewing and, while she raced keenly on her first start beyond a mile, showed smart ability in quickening clear of her more experienced rivals in the home straight, eventually beating dual-hurdle winner Teriferma by four lengths.

Elliott was represented by Lisa O’Neill, who said: “She was very good and settled well. She had been keen previously, so that’s why she wore the hood and seemed pretty natural at jumping.

“Jack (Kennedy) had been doing all the work with her at home and has a great set of hands. Unfortunately, Jack was unable to ride her today, due to the light weight, but will be back on her the next day.

“I imagine the aim now is to go on to Down Royal (in early November). It was a nice start for her.”

Better fortune

Teriferma’s connections later enjoyed better fortune, when landing the day’s most valuable race, the €45,000 Kerry Group Handicap Chase, with Solness, which gave trainer Joseph O’Brien a double.

Carrying the Galway Hurdle-winning Bronsan Racing colours, Solness (13/2) raced prominently under 5lb claimer Oakley Brown and, while strongly pressed by The Banger Doyle on the run-in, held on well for a half-length success.

Sean Corby, representing O’Brien, later commented: “He jumped well, travelled well the whole way and, when the other horse (The Banger Doyle) came to him, he toughed it out. This trip seems ideal. He is a classy horse on his day and Oakley’s 5lb off was a big help, as his claim is very valuable. Oakley is on the Hill (at Owning) five days a week, so it is nice to get him a winner, as he deserves it.”

O’Brien had earlier won the Strings & Things Rated Novice Chase with his lesser-fancied runner San Salvador (15/2, for the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate), which led home a 1-2 for the trainer, as his 2/1 favourite Jordans finished a close second.

San Salvador was steered to victory by Richie Deegan and afterwards Corby commented: “San Salvador’s jumping came together. He has always had plenty of ability and got it all together today.”

THERE was a locally-owned winner of the Cheesestrings Irish EBF Mares Hurdle, as World Of Fortunes (5/2) scored for Listowel-native owner, Michael Broderick and for Wexford pair, trainer Liam Kenny and jockey Jordan Gainford.

Previously successful on hurdling debut at Wexford, World Of Fortunes defeated Paggane by four lengths.

Afterwards Broderick, who owns the winner in partnership, stated: “She has come on a lot from her win in Wexford and obviously that was over three miles.

“She jumped slowly at the start of that race and we felt a faster pace over a shorter distance would suit her. She is good, we like her and, while she had a blip, she is back on track now. I’m living in Ballymore Eustace, but Listowel is originally home for me, so this is super.”

Paggane’s trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend later landed the Dairygold Maiden Hurdle with the three-Corbetts-and-a-Clancy-owned Uncle Pat (7/4 joint-favourite), which got off the mark on his fourth hurdle start.

The winner scored by two and a quarter lengths from Ballysax Hank, with Townend reporting: “We went a good gallop, he is progressing away and we are learning about him and he is growing up.

“He stays well, jumps brilliantly and will jump a fence. He is maturing and I think he will stay improving away.”

THERE was a three-way photo-finish to the Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle with One Night Standard (12/1) getting up in the last stride to score by two short-heads, from runner-up Straight Home and Stormalong.

Gavin Cromwell trains One Night Standard for the Santana Syndicate and, afterwards, winning jockey Keith Donoghue stated: “I thought I had every chance turning-in, but Paul’s (Townend, on Straight Home) jumped across me a little jumping the last two hurdles and I just got there at the line. I thought I would have been unlucky not to win.

“She had disappointed on her last couple of runs, but she had a break, came back to form and we knew she’d stay well.”

Front-runner

Front-running Cappucino (7/2) provided trainer Liz Doyle with her second winner in six days in the concluding Farm & Home Store Bumper, scoring readily under jockey John Gleeson, for the Cappucino Partnership.

Doyle later reported: “He wasn’t settling last year and he has to race in front. We tried dropping him in over hurdles and today he got a freebie out in front; they left him alone. After the race, John (Gleeson) said to me that he was only going 32 miles an hour, as he had spotted it on the big screen!

“For the first time, other horses left him alone and he is a speed horse, so was able to use that on the good ground. I was looking for better ground last year, but couldn’t find any and then all my horses were sick.

“He gets his name from the late Pat Coffey, who previously owned him and was sold in a dispersal sale. He is named in memory of Pat. He is a nice horse and will go back over hurdles now.”