THE finish of the featured Kilcawley Construction Irish EBF Mares Handicap Hurdle produced the biggest cheer of the day from a fine crowd at Sligo last Sunday as locally-trained course specialist Red Ball Of Fire recorded her third win at the Cleveragh circuit.

In the care of Strandhill handler Mark McNiff, the 3/1 chance made gradual progress from the rear of the field under Michael O’Sullivan and got to the front after the last to see off Delante by three quarters of a length.

“It’s great to win for the local trainer and local connections (the Sligo Sopranos Syndicate),” O’Sullivan commented.

“They went very quick early so I just gave her a chance and in fairness to her, the more the race went on the more she travelled and jumped. I had ridden her at Downpatrick last year. She’s a tricky sort of mare so I suppose it helps knowing her.”

Diamond shines

Arabian Diamond (2/1) blitzed his rivals in the concluding Durkin Bros. Electrical INH Flat Race, coming home 19 lengths to the good under Harry Swan.

Menindee (9/1) gained compensation for a mishap on her previous start as she made all under Darragh O’Keeffe to land the Sligo Park Hotel Handicap Hurdle.

Still in front when falling at the last over fences at Punchestown, the daughter of Yeats was almost joined by Dinoland from the third last and needed to be ridden out on the run-in to see off that rival by half a length.

David Christie, who trains the winner for David Kells, said: “For a mare that fell the last day, she jumped her hurdles really well and for her confidence it was brilliant but she’s a better chaser and I’d love to go back over fences with her.”

Second at Ballinrobe and Kilbeggan on his most recent starts, the Gordon Elliott-trained bay was always towards the head of affairs and went clear from over two furlongs out with Midleton Rare faring the best of the rest.

“I probably should have won on him in Kilbeggan where I should have made a bit more use of him,” said Swan of the Ann Marie McManus-owned winner.

“I went out with that mindset today, to make as much use of him as I could and I’d say he didn’t mind the dig in the ground either. He’s probably not a typical bumper horse and will be a lovely horse over hurdles.”

SENT off the 2/1 favourite, Bukhill provided Clane native Eamonn Fitzgerald with his first success as he guided the Peter Fahey-trained gelding to victory in the CT Electrical Maiden Hurdle.

Having been settled in mid-division, the Hillstar gelding hit the front just after the final flight and kept on well to beat The Mass Path by a length and three quarters.

Fahey, who was recording his fourth winner in six days, said: “I’m delighted for Eamonn. He joined me from Michael Halford’s about six months ago and is an unbelievable worker.

“For a tall lad he’s a tidy little rider and fair play to the owner, Peter McCarthy, for leaving him on the horse in an open race.

“He’s a grand horse who’ll make a nice handicapper down the line. He actually has plenty of pace and could end up going back on the flat as well.”

After a memorable breakthrough success aboard Katherine for his father Adrian at Tipperary three days earlier, Harry Sexton doubled his tally on Athagabhain (14/1) in the Deoclip Construction Handicap Hurdle, with this winner also trained by Sexton senior for Marc Salmon.

Settled behind the leaders early on, the Doyen mare improved to the front before halfway and battled gamely on the run-in to see off the effort of Sean Og by half a length.

“It’s been absolutely unreal to get my first two winners on the board back to back,” the winning rider commented. I’m delighted for my father who has stuck by me and I’m thrilled to be able to pay him back.”

IN the colours of 2011 Galway Hurdle winner Moon Dice, The Big Chap (9/2) defied top-weight in the Friends Of Brian Mulligan Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

Having hit the front two out, he came home three and a quarter lengths ahead of Warm In Gorey to gain his third win for the Kilkenny-based Glenmore Goes Racing Syndicate.

It was a 25th success for jockey Aidan Kelly whose claim is now down to 5lb.

Explaining a rare disappointing effort from the Policy Maker gelding on his previous start, winning trainer Paul Fynn said: “It got very wet in Roscommon and I probably shouldn’t have run him on that ground. The two miles and five furlongs probably just stretched him there as well.

“The owners had Moon Dice with me and they’ll probably be keen to go to Galway, so we probably will head there. He should make a good chaser in time.”

The Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges Maiden Hurdle appeared a two-horse race on paper and so it proved with Dark Note (7/4) just getting the better of odds-on favourite Shajak.

Placed on his previous three starts and the most experienced runner in the line-up, the Andy Slattery-trained victor made virtually all under Cian Quirke to score in the colours of the For The Good Times Syndicate.

“When I heard Jack (Kennedy, on Shajak) come upsides me at the second last I knew he was under pressure and his horse probably had a couple of sloppy jumps which cost him a bit too,” Quirke said.

“I think I won with a bit up the sleeve and hopefully he’ll continue to progress.”