HENRY de Bromhead delighted his many local supporters, when combining with his ever-popular stable jockey Rachael Blackmore, for a double on the final day of the shortened August festival at Tramore.

They struck first with Whacker Clan in the feature McCarthys Irish Bar Lexington Handicap Chase, with this 7/1 chance (from 12s) making virtually all.

Strongly pressed and joined two out, the Westerner seven-year-old battled gamely on the run-in and regained the lead close home, getting the better of Lake Chad by half a length.

Bidding to follow-up on his Thursday success, Rotten Row had to settle for fourth in the colours of race sponsor Roddy O’Byrne.

“It’s extra special to win Roddy’s race and it’s great for all the Halleys (of the Whacker’s Clan Syndicate) as we aimed for this race,” de Bromhead remarked.

“Rachael was masterful on him, she got the fractions to perfection and was just brilliant.”

For the Both Sides Of The Water Syndicate, Gentle And Kind brought up the brace in the Comeragh Veterinary Kilmacthomas Maiden Hurdle.

Victory

Returned the even-money favourite, she was made to work hard for her victory and only got to the front when ridden on the run-in, ultimately staying on best to beat Silver Gazette by half-a-length.

“She had a lovely first run when second in Kilbeggan and I’m delighted that she stepped forward today,” de Bromhead commented.

“She got injured after winning her point-to-point and her owners have been very patient.”

Elliott raids bear Fruit

AFTER three-days of racing at the Graun Hill venue, Jack Kennedy was leading rider and Gordon Elliott the top trainer, with five and six wins respectively.

Fruit Blossom (11/4 joint-favourite) rounded off a profitable few days for the pair, as she comfortably dismissed her eight rivals in the opening Victoria House Tramore Beginners Chase.

Sent to the front after three out, she went a few lengths clear when ridden from the next and kept on well from there, comfortably obliging by four and a quarter lengths in the colours of the Barstool Prophets Syndicate.

“We are after having a good time down here,” assistant trainer Ian Amond reflected.

“She is owned by a syndicate of lads from Summerhill. They would be all good friends of Gordon’s and his father Pat is involved too.”

First winner

While Elliott has had well over 1,000 winners under National Hunt rules, Ian Donoghue registered his first when Brehon Star claimed the Heinz Pollmeier Memorial Handicap Chase.

Starting off over fences, on what was his debut for Donoghue, the Pipe Down Syndicate-owned five-year-old went off a well-supported 11/2 chance (16s early) under Darragh O’Keeffe.

In front when nodding on landing two out, he was soon joined by Lesssaidthebetter, but battled back gamely on the run-in, seeing off that rival by a length and a quarter.

“We only got him Monday morning so we can’t take any of the credit for it really, Shane Crawley has done all the work,” Donoghue revealed.

“We knew he jumped well and that’s all he done this week. I think jumping is key to him.”

The only four-year-old in the line-up, the Cian Cullinan-ridden Boskill Borden (6/1) upstaged his older rivals in the first divide of the Frank Gillane Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Found for pressure

Trained by Paul Fahey, the handicap debutant got to the front on the approach to two out and while soon pressed, he found plenty for pressure, coming home a length and a quarter to the good in the colours of owner/breeder Pat McCarthy.

“He got a break after he ran here in June and is after improving, he is bigger and stronger,” Fahey disclosed.

With six non-runners in each, just nine ran in both divides of this two-mile contest, with Prince Of Air (4/1) claiming the second split in the colours of Gavin Kinch.

Third over the course and distance in April, the Philip Rothwell-trained bay led before the last and kept on well in the closing stages, prevailing by two and a quarter lengths under Simon Torrens.

Returned the 10/3 joint-favourites, the ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained pair of Mullins Cross and Leroy Leroy were second and third respectively.

“We were hoping for a good run. I’d say it wasn’t the strongest race in the world and we were lucky it divided. We might go over fences with him now,” Rothwell divulged.

Brickley is in the driving seat

ON just his third ride, 17-year-old Finbarr Brickley registered his first success, steering Grannys Yaris (7/1) to victory in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race.

The West Cork native settled the Nigel Slevin-trained victor in mid-division, before she made good headway to lead three furlongs from home.

Ridden in the dip, the Jet Away six-year-old responded well to pressure and soon kicked a few lengths clear, going on to score by a comfortable six-lengths in the colours of Charles Flattery.

Returned the 4/9 favourite, Nt Field Minnesota could only manage second, while Late Vocation (18/1 from 50s) was half-a-length back in third.

Adam Ryan was aboard the latter and was later handed a nine-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency, while also failing to give his mount sufficient time to respond.

“I’m working in Gordon Elliott’s full-time but with Nigel in the evenings and this is just a dream come true really,” Brickley enthused.

“I grew up with horses and ponies and racing is all I wanted to do. My sister Shelley rides too and hopefully I can kick on now.”

While he had to settle for minor honours with Nt Field Minnesota, Willie Mullins was earlier on the mark with Friends (4/6 favourite), who made it two from two in the Frank King Memorial Maiden Hurdle. Tracking Hashtag Pretender (15/8) in second from flag fall, the Paul Townend-ridden victor wasn’t fluent at times, but travelled best to lead before two out and gradually increased her advantage to the line, with 15-lengths the winning margin.

“Paul got her warmed into it and I was very happy with her in the end,” Mullins said of the Lions Mouth Racing Club owned bay.

“She will go novice hurdling and hopefully she’ll improve as the autumn comes in.”