LONG time attendees at Tramore will have memories of her late great father Pat riding winners at the seaside venue, and those present to see Hannah Smullen register her first success in the plate will remember it as a special occasion.

She got Fillusin home by half-a-length in the Kilbarry (Ladies Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

Of course, her mother Frances was also more than adept when it came to returning to the number one spot at Graun Hill, during her own race riding days.

She has Fillusin (6/1) racing in her own Brickfield Stud Limited colours, having leased the attractive Malinas mare from her breeders Maurice and Anthony Smiddy.

She understandably took immense satisfaction from seeing the Gordon Elliott-handled newcomer always to the fore here under her 21-year-old daughter.

Fillusin then showed an excellent attitude to come out best after a prolonged tussle with 2/5 chance Si Se Puede, that one is a sister to El Fabiolo.

“It’s brilliant to have Mam here this evening. She has been absolutely amazing to me. I owe her the world, she is an unreal woman,” reflected the Offaly pilot on dismounting.

Riding out at Cullentra House at the weekends and on holidays, the main focus of Smullen’s attention at the moment is her Law studies at Trinity. She was keen to credit Elliott for his input towards this breakthrough, which came on her sixth bumper ride. The Co Meath handler had earlier hit the crossbar in the Ballyduff Maiden Hurdle, with his Mordor proving no match for the 8/13 favourite Trustyourinstinct.

O’Brien victor

A dual winner on the level, the Joseph O’Brien-trained victor made all under Simon Torrens and despite a bad mistake two flights from the finish, he recovered quickly and came home 11-lengths to the good.

“He was a classy enough horse on the flat and it’s probably taken him a while to get his act together over hurdles. Hopefully he can kick on from here,” Torrens said of the J.P. McManus-owned chestnut.

Ceanndana was another to justify favouritism, with the Ross O’Sullivan-trained seven-year-old comfortably accounting for his 14-rivals in the opening Curraghmore Beginners Chase.

Despite proving easy to back (11/4 from 6/4), the Leading Light seven-year-old raced in fourth under Keith Donoghue and improved into second four fences from the finish.

Owned by the Hows Your Father Syndicate, the bay victor travelled best and improved to lead before the last, keeping on well from there to score by four lengths.

“He is after taking a couple of runs to get his confidence up. He jumped well today and it went according to plan,” Donoghue commented.

Carl Millar, who was aboard runner-up Gold Haven, was later handed a five-day suspension for using his whip with excessive frequency.

Matuta makes amends

FOR the second time in three years, Mater Matuta, who was the only mare in the field, claimed the Tramore Tourism Handicap Chase.

A runner-up in this very contest 12 months ago, the Eamon Delany-trained eight-year-old clearly has a fondness for the Co Waterford venue.

Sent to post a 14/1 chance under Jordan Gainford, the versatile Dawn Approach chestnut tracked the leaders in the early stages, improving into a close second with just over a circuit to race.

She took over from the front-running Itsalonglongroad approaching the penultimate fence and soon went a few lengths clear, eventually coming home four and a quarter lengths to the good.

“We were still a couple of pounds out of the handicap but she really turned inside out the last week and we said we would take our chance,” Alan Delany, son of the winning trainer remarked.

“We will keep her going now for the summer and it’s great for her owners David and Margaret Jordan who are very sporting people.”

Similar tactics

Ben Harvey deployed similar tactics aboard Jumping Susie as she deservedly made the breakthrough in the Kilmeaden Mares Maiden Hurdle.

A runner-up on five of her previous 12 outings, the John McConnell-trained bay was sent off a 13/2 chance in the colours of the 119 Partnership.

Settled in second, the 102-rated six-year-old improved to lead before five out and while pressed from the third last by Ashlia Dancer, she ultimately saw off the persistent effort of that Paul Fahey-trained runner by a length and a half.

Just eight of the 15 starters managed to complete the course, with Hashtag Be Kind (6/4 favourite) pulled up quickly after jumping the first.

“She really deserved that. It was her first run in a while and she should improve for it. I think she will be better over fences,” Harvey stated.

Queen keeps on winning track

THE progressive Redwood Queen (11/4 to 4/1) registered a third win from her last five outings, (and she won again at Listowel on Monday) when benefitting from a patient Philip Byrnes ride in the Butlerstown Handicap Hurdle.

Trained by Byrnes’ father Charles and owned by brother Cathal, the seven-year-old raced in rear in the early stages, making progress from three out.

While she jumped left when coming with her challenge at the last, she ultimately stayed on best in the closing stages to deny the well-backed Macinamillion by half-a-length.

“They went a good gallop and she can be very free so he sat off them. She is progressive and fierce genuine,” the winning handler enthused. She needs good ground and shouldn’t go up much in the handicap for that.

Rauzan (22/1) was another to benefit from the drying conditions, as he came home a length and a quarter to the good in the Dunmore East Handicap Hurdle. The only four-year-old in the race, the Aga Khan-bred bay was in mid-division early on, taking closer order with just over a circuit to go.

Sent to the front by Hugh Morgan before the penultimate obstacle, he kept on well in the closing stages and led home the David O’Brien-trained pair of Roman Parish and Elegant Dan. “He was running over the winter on heavy and just wasn’t in love with it,” Eoin Doyle, who trains the winner for his mother Pauline, explained. “He picked up well tonight and I’d say he will come on again for the run.”