AN eight race all-chase card in the middle of summer unsurprisingly proved the perfect recipe for drama, as National Hunt racing made a welcome return from a two-week break.

The first dramatic conclusion occurred in the opening Tipperary Races Beginners Chase, with the well-supported Bowmore (6/1 from 10s) eventually coming out on top.

The initial leg of a double for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead, the Alan Halsall-owned six-year-old was left clear when the challenging Jet Setting Jim crashed out at the last.

In a narrow lead at the time, the winning son of Vadamos increased his advantage on the run-in and was four-lengths clear of Thecompanysergeant (11/8 favourite) at the line.

“I’m delighted for the Halsalls who have been very patient and it’s nice to get him off to a winning start over fences,” de Bromhead commented.

Left clear

The Walter Hennessy Auctioneer, Valuer And Estate Agent MIPAV TRV MCEI Mares Beginners Chase was another incident-packed affair.

Completing a double for de Bromhead and Blackmore, Popova (2/1 joint-favourite from 4s) also justified plenty of market support in this 10-runner contest.

In a share of the lead with Judicieuse Allen (2/1 joint-favourite) from two out, the David Maughan-owned victor gained a narrow advantage before the last and was soon left clear by the fall of her market rival, eventually coming home eight-lengths to the good.

“She jumped great and stayed at it really well. She stays well so we’ll look for something similar,” the winning handler reflected.

Eight lengths was also the margin of victory for It’sallabouteve in the second division of the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap Chase.

Placed on two of her last three starts, the Brendan Walsh-trained bay was sent off a 6/1 chance in the colours of Elizabeth Stack.

With amateur rider Cal Shine aboard, the Doyen eight-year-old improved into a share of the lead with Crowsatedappletart on the approach to the straight.

While that Mick Winters-trained gelding appeared to be travelling best before the last, he found little after a slight mistake, with the winner staying on strongly to score in decisive fashion.

“I know she won a maiden and a bumper on soft ground but she wants good ground all the time and she got it today,” Walsh remarked.

An incident shortly after the start resulted in a two-day careless riding ban for Shane Fenelon, rider of Brown Monday.

Despite a significant market drift, the first division of this 0-102 contest went the way of May Call You Back, a new recruit to the Willie Mullins yard.

Previously in the care of Steve Jones and as short at 7/4 in early shows, the 77-rated bay went off a 7/2 chance under Brian Hayes.

New recruit

Jumping well throughout, the six-year-old came with her challenge between horses on the run to the last fence and soon led, keeping on well in the closing stages to beat Added Bonus by a length and a half.

“She guessed at a few early on but she is a good jumper and has loads of scope. She is just not that street smart yet and you’d be happy the way she finished,” Hayes enthused.

Shane O’Callaghan, rider of third place finisher Itsalonglongroad, was later suspended for eight days after he was found guilty of careless riding following an incident in the early stages.

THERE was yet another dramatic finish to the Packie Downey Memorial Rated Novice Chase, with the easy-to-back Dutch Schultz (5/2 from 15/8) eventually coming out on top to complete a double for Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue.

Representing the treble seeking pair of Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead, Mayor’s Walk (10/11 favourite) led from flag fall and still held a narrow advantage when crashing out at the last, a fall that unfortunately turned out to be fatal. While making a significant error himself, Dutch Schultz was then left in front but was soon joined by Bua Boy, and after a protracted tussle on the run-in, there was just a head between them at the line.

Had to battle

“He settled well today and had to battle after missing the last,” Donoghue stated.

“It’s brilliant for the lads (the Bootlegger Syndicate) that he’s won.”

Theonewedreamof had earlier provided Cromwell and Donoghue with their initial success in the Baileys Hotel Cashel Beginners Chase.

On her second start over fences, the French Navy five-year-old was sent off the 16/5 favourite in the colours of the Golfcrest Syndicate.

Gaining a narrow advantage from two out, the bay victor kept on well when ridden away from the last and was a length and a-quarter clear of Winding River at the line. She learned plenty from the last day. She jumped well and it was straightforward enough,” Donoghue said.

NINE lined up for the feature Tipperary Town Plate Handicap Chase and it was last year’s winner Good As Hell (16/1) who once again showed her fondness for the Limerick Junction venue.

Recording her fourth track success, the Philip Fenton-trained nine-year-old wasn’t fluent at the third under Niall Moore but improved to lead after the next.

While she had no shortage of challengers when steadied into the last, the James Moran-owned bay found plenty for pressure on the run-in and was two and a quarter lengths clear of Mister Wilson at the line.

“She was able to dictate things and Niall rode her well. She nearly gave it away at the last, but she got back on track,” Fenton divulged.

“Two miles on a flat track suits her and she also likes going left-handed.”

Making all

Avec Espoir (16/1) is another who favours anti-clockwise circuits, with the striking chesnut making all and coming home 19 lengths to the good in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase.

Trained by Val O’Brien and owned by his brother Sean, the son of Flying Legend soon established a sizeable advantage under Aidan Kelly and maintained that lead all the way to the line.

The winner of this very race in 2021, the successful handler said of his admirable 11-year-old: “I thought he had a chance but didn’t think he’d win like that. He likes goodish ground and going left-handed.”