JACK Kennedy and Paul Townend traded punches in their ongoing tussle for the champion jockey crown, in front of a large crowd for students’ day on a fine spring evening at Tramore.

Celebrating his 25th birthday, Kennedy struck first aboard Touch Me Not in the opening Ladies Day August 17th Maiden Hurdle.

Providing Gordon Elliott with his 200th winner of the season, the five-year-old was sent off a 2/1 chance in the familiar silks of Gigginstown House Stud.

Acquired by current connections after falling on debut in an English point-to-point, the Malinas gelding made all and jumped well throughout.

Briefly pressed by 5/6 favourite Al Gasparo approaching two out, he soon went on again when ridden and was four lengths clear of the market leader at the line.

“The track suited him. I had probably been riding him wrong, trying to get him settled but I just let him gallop today and it seemed to suit,” Kennedy explained.

Reduced gap

Less than two hours later, Townend reduced the gap back to five aboard Surf Club in the Tramore Promenade Beginners Chase.

With a hurdles mark of 98, the Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old was sent off an 11/4 chance (drifted from 13/8) on what was his debut over fences.

Settled behind the leaders, the Malcolm Denmark- owned bay jumped well throughout and improved to lead before the second last, keeping on well in the closing stages to prevail by two and a quarter lengths.

“He had been disappointing over hurdles, but he jumps like a buck,” Townend, who was recording his 115th winner of the campaign remarked.

“It was a 102 or less race and once you jump in a race like this it will bring you along way and that’s what he done.”

ON just his second start for Terence O’Brien, the well-supported Kilmurry Jj registered a breakthrough success in the West Waterford Handicap Chase.

Twice a runner-up when in the care of Michael ‘Trixie’ Barry, the chesnut seven-year-old was down the field on his debut for current connections at Thurles in October.

Given a break since, the Imperial Monarch gelding was available at 9/1 in early shows for this extended two miles and five-furlong contest, eventually going off the 4/1 favourite.

Waited with under John Shinnick, he made good progress after three out and came with his challenge on the outer approaching the next.

While second jumping the last, he found plenty for pressure on the run-in, getting up in the final strides to beat Gold Haven by half-a-length.

“He is owned by a great syndicate (the Terence O’Brien Racing Syndicate) and the craic is mighty with them,” Shinnick commented.

“I was just trying to get him to run a proper race today, he can be very difficult at home trying to settle him. His jumping was very good today.”

Market support

Brownstone (9/2 from 7s) also justified market support in the Anne Valley Walk Handicap Hurdle, comfortably accounting for 15 rivals under Keith Donoghue for his brother Ian.

A winner at Fairyhouse in October, and pulled up when last seen on heavy ground, the Yeats eight-year-old made progress to dispute the lead after three out and gained an outright advantage before the next.

He went clear with the minimum of fuss approaching the last and never came off the bridle, coming home five and a half lengths clear in the colours of the Brownstone Cowboys Syndicate.

“The ground was too deep for him the last day, he sulked a bit and pulled himself up,” the winning handler revealed.

“We gave him a nice break after that and he was good and fresh coming here today, but we thought he might need the run.”

WHILE already responsible for 12 winners in the point-to-point ranks, Eddie Power registered his first on the track when Shiroccosmagicgem just prevailed in the concluding Gaultier Hunters Chase.

A three-time winner between the flags, the Liam Cleary-owned six-year-old came in for plenty of market support and was sent off an 8/1 chance having touched 16s.

Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time and settled in mid-division by Johnny Barry, the bay victor wasn’t fluent at times and was pushed along before two out.

She soon made good progress when ridden and jumped the last in second, staying on strongly from there to collar The Brickey Ranger in the final strides, with just a head between them at the line.

Sent to post the 11/8 favourite, Dromleigh was pushed along but still in with every chance when falling at the penultimate fence.

“She is a nice mare and started off the season great. She would have won at Tatts but got a very bad fall and has been a little bit cautious since,” Power disclosed.

“I knew if she was in contention turning in that she’d come up the hill the best of them.”

Reflecting on his career to date, the Tipperary native added: “I rode plenty of winners before I got injured in 2013 and that’s what finished me.

“I went travelling for a few years with Gordon Lord Byron and I started doing point-to-points with Pat Doyle when I came home, he taught me the trade.”

Danny Fitzgerald, rider of sixth place finisher Carrig Wells, was later handed a seven-day ban for improper riding.

Mare on top

Another mare came out on top in the Copper Coast Handicap Hurdle, with Miss Gherkin proving much too good for her 12 rivals.

Successful on her handicap debut at Leopardstown last month, the Peter Croke-trained five-year-old was sent off a 7/2 chance, sharing favouritism with last year’s winner Pidoyne.

Sent straight to the front by Jordan Gainford, the Maurice Sheehy-owned bay made all and went clear when ridden between the final two flights.

While she reached for the last, it did little to halt her momentum as she eased to a six-length win, with the well-supported Forever Frankie (10/1 from 50s early) in second.

“She is a really good mare. She got a great bit of confidence from her win at Leopardstown and the better ground is suiting her,” Croke enthused.