TRAINER Gavin Cromwell continued his excellent start to the new campaign when recording a treble at Punchestown on Tuesday.

Mywayofthinkin initiated the treble when making a winning debut over flights in division one of the Tuesday Treat At Punchestown Maiden Hurdle.

Mark Walsh sent the J.P. McManus-owned 4/5 favourite to the front approaching the final flight, before keeping on well to win by a length and a quarter.

“That was grand, we were glad to see the bit of rain coming this morning,” said Cromwell.

“He had a hard enough race in both bumpers and it was the sensible thing to do (go hurdling). He’ll be going back home to Martinstown shortly. He was a little bit deliberate and careful everywhere but professional over the last two when he was needed.”

Fenway Park was a second odds-on winner for Cromwell when making most under Keith Donoghue to take the Punchestown Home Of Irish Jumps Maiden Hurdle. Owned by Chris Jones, the five-year-old stayed strongly to beat Syracus Du Houx by a length and a quarter.

Of the 4/7 favourite, Cromwell said: “That was grand. I suppose with the run at the festival here a repeat performance of that and the two and a half miles looked ideal today. He was quite professional.

“I was a little bit worried when the second horse came to him. I thought we were in trouble, but he pulled it out again to be fair to him. He just wouldn’t want bottomless winter ground. He’ll get further and he’ll be a nice horse when he goes chasing.”

Third winner

Jockey Keith Donoghue was also on board the third Cromwell winner, 9/2 chance On My Bike in division two of the Thank You To Our Track Team Handicap Hurdle. the Dochas Partnership-owned gelding led on the run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths.

“He’s been a hard horse to figure out but I suppose a bit of nicer ground has probably been key to him; said Cromwell. We’ll see what the handicapper does and it’ll be more of the same.”

TRAINER Edward Buckley saddled his first winner since returning to Ireland last year when Noble Hilltop won division one of the Thank You To Our Track Team Handicap Hurdle.

Ridden by the trainer’s son Kieren, the 16/1 chance led before the last flight, staying on nicely to beat Queen Kulina by two and three-quarter lengths.

“I’m delighted with that. She’s a nice little mare,” said Buckley senior. “She had bits and pieces of form when we bought her and we thought there was a little bit of improvement in her.

“A few of the boys from England thankfully got involved in her. We picked this race out as we thought she wanted two and a half miles, she was staying on over two. We worked her a few times and Kieren said she definitely wanted a trip.

“She won, it doesn’t often happen like that! I’ve been here since last April; I was in England for 40 years. I was in Pipe’s for 20-odd years, both with Martin and David. I was there in the good old days of Carvill’s Hill. I trained under my own name for a while in the early 90s.

“We started off here doing a bit of pre-training and breaking, there are lots of yards around Meath. Then I got the restricted licence and a couple of lads I know very kindly sent me a few horses. I’m based in Lee Valley near Ratoath, I rented a yard there off David Eiffe.

“We have a couple belonging to Jim Bolger, a nice juvenile that will run in July. I’m originally from Wexford hence the Jim Bolger connection. That was the first place I went to as a 15-year-old. He said he’d support me and fair play to him he did. He’s always been good that way.”

Willie Mullins introduced a smart hurdling debutant in the shape of Belloccio, who won division two of the Tuesday Treat At Punchestown Maiden Hurdle.

Sent off 4/5 favourite, the Thurloe Thoroughbreds Ireland Limited-owned gelding quickened clear from the last to win by nine lengths.

Winning rider Paul Townend said: “He brought a good level of form into the race and showed a good attitude for jumping, he did it nicely. It’s a different sphere, jump racing to flat racing, and it lit him up a little bit. Every time he could hear them coming he was getting a bit keen. He’ll have no problem adjusting to jumps racing, he just has to learn on the job.

“I’m delighted to get him going and think he could be smart. I’d imagine as long as the ground is okay he has the option of staying going. I think he sets a nice level and there could be some nice targets later on.”

Coen collects win

PETER Fahey and Jake Coen teamed up to win the Summer In Town 8th & 9th June Handicap Hurdle with 10/1 chance Makfils. The Ashford Syndicate-owned gelding led on the run-in to beat Steps In The Sand by four lengths. Coen said: “He was a career-low mark today and off a little bit of a break and he was good. I was a bit handier than I wanted to be but I had a target to aim at going to the last so it was good. He never missed a bit jumping which was a big help.

“Peter was hopeful, he thought maybe off the break he mightn’t be race-fit. I’m delighted to ride a winner for Peter as he’s been very good to me since I started riding on the flat.

“That’s my second winner over hurdles. I’ve been trying to get one over the line for a while so it’s brilliant.”

The Oliver McKiernan-trained All For Rachel landed odds of 9/1 when staying on strongly under Phillip Enright to win the FitClub At Punchestown 9th June Handicap Hurdle.

Carrying the colours of Keep The Faith Bloodstock Limited, the gelding stayed on well from the final flight to win easily by six and a half lengths.

“He’s a long time around the house and the penny never dropped. I can’t believe how well he travelled today,” said McKiernan. “He looked like a horse that was going to win races several times before but it never materialised.

“One of the key things to him is the ground but he has strengthened up as well. He’s a big horse that’s been growing and developing and every year I say ‘I hope I’m not saying the same thing next year’! He’s seven now and I bought him as a three-year-old. He’s called after a grandchild of ours, a daughter of Rory and Theresa. I had some inclination today with the way he was working at home and the way he had strengthened up. Phillip gave him a grand ride.”

Western Model appreciated the better ground when running out an easy seven-length winner of the See You In June Handicap Hurdle under Sean O’Keeffe. The Paul Nolan-trained 10/1 chance carried the colours of the Espresso Martini Syndicate. O’Keeffe said: “He jumped super and travelled great. He’s a typical Westerner as he jumps and gallops. Three miles on that ground brought out the best of him. He did it nicely so hopefully he can go on.”

Mark McDonagh picked up a four-day ban for careless riding in the third race, while Jody McGarvey will miss 10 days due to a whip ban after riding Bearwithmenow in the last.