THURLES staged the final day’s racing before Christmas on Saturday, where trainer Joseph O’Brien registered a treble and provided jockey J.J. Slevin with a winner on his first ride back from injury on Cottesloe Sunshine (3/1), in the featured Listed Billy Harney Irish EBF (Mares) Novice Hurdle.

Slevin, who fractured his navicular bone in his foot in 11 places in a Gowran fall on October 3rd, returned in time for the festival period and, on Mrs Orla Fahy’s Cottesloe Sunshine, he raced behind the leaders before moving to challenge early in the home straight.

Beauforts Storm arrived with a strong challenge approaching the last and, while that rival led on the run-in, Cottesloe Sunshine rallied very well to score by a short-head.

Afterwards, Slevin commented “sharpness, rusty, jumping, position and everything - I found it more difficult than normal today, but she is a good staying type of mare who tried hard and jumped well.

“She is a hardy lady and, when the other horse passed me at the last, she stuck out her head again. Joseph is flying and this is unreal.

“I am lucky to be riding at all, as initially the surgeons told me it would be a long, long time. They had even asked had I any rides for Cheltenham (in March), so I replied ‘probably none’, after hearing that!

“It is all down to Jennifer Pugh and Wayne and Gavin in RACE, who have worked unbelievably hard to get me here. I can’t walk, but I’m riding something like how I always rode.”

Opening the treble

Trainer O’Brien had earlier landed the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase with the Sean Sweeney amd Kieran O’Hare-owned Prairie Dancer (10/1), which scored by a length under jockey Aidan Kelly.

Prairie Dancer had previously been successful at listed level over hurdles and Kelly reported: “I was there probably a mile too soon - I was in front at the second-last when he pulled up a bit, but when I got after him, he battled back. He had top weight, but battled it out well.

“I had previously ridden for Joseph (O’Brien) on Mr McManus-owned horses, so that is my first ‘outside’ ride for him and is my first winner. It is great to get it.”

O’Brien completed his treble in the Safe & Happy Christmas Handicap Hurdle with the J.P. McManus-owned Jeaniemacaroney (6/1), which scored a two and a half lengths win over Wee Charlie.

Successful jockey Peter Smithers later stated: “I finished second on her previously in Limerick, when she had a heavy enough weight, which might have caught her out, but she had a light weight today and the tight track suited her.

“They went plenty hard up front today, but she has plenty of speed and I was happy enough to hold on to her as long as I could, and to go with one run.

“To be fair to her for a small filly, ground isn’t really an issue.”

WILLIE Mullins was on the mark in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Bumper with Gigginstown House Stud’s €170,000 point-to-point purchase Blue Velvet (4/5 favourite), who showed some signs of greenness when scoring a battling success under the champion trainer’s son Patrick Mullins.

Mullins senior stated: “She is a nice addition to the mares ranks. She was very green and lazy, so was learning on the job and, to pull it out again in the final 100 yards when the other horse came to her, was a great sign.

“She looks like a really nice type and looks another one for the Dublin Racing Festival mares’ bumper. Hopefully then, she will go across the water and to Punchestown.”

Fortune favours the Brave

Pat Doyle’s Brave Fortune (2/1 favourite) looked a horse to follow when readily landing the competitive Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle, under the trainer’s son Jack Doyle.

Previously successful in a Clonmel maiden hurdle last month, the Linda Mulcahy-owned gelding was produced from rear-division to lead before the last and finished well to beat Heroes Rise by three lengths.

Trainer Doyle commented: “It was very nice and I suppose he did what was expected. We have a very high opinion of this horse, he won his point to point and has done everything well, but it has really taken until now to come to himself.

“We’ll probably step him up to a graded race now, as handicapping might be out of the question, as he’ll be rated too high.

“We are looking forward to him going chasing, as he is a fabulous jumper. He could even go chasing at the tail end of this season to keep him a novice until early December (2025), as he prefers nicer ground.”

TRAINER Tim Doyle and his jockey son David Doyle were touched off by a short-head in the featured listed hurdle, but had earlier won the Thank You For Supporting Us 2024 Maiden Hurdle with Bayrann (3/1).

Rated 106, Bayrann travelled well through Saturday’s race and beat front-runner Zoomtime by three and a half lengths. Doyle senior later said: “He is progressing, every run is better and he is getting the hang of it.

“He is hard work before his races, as he is mad to get on with it, but once he is off and galloping, he knows what to do. Valiranns are like that, but they have engines.

“He will be a lovely horse and will be better over a fence. He has plenty pace, jumps well and I’d say he will go on any ground.

“He has the right attitude and tries his heart out. We’ll go down the handicap route now and, if he can stay on the same mark, we’ll be happy!”

Ground dependent

The opening Molony Cup Handicap Chase was won by Cullenwaine, under jockey Simon Torrens.

The pair provided trainer Philip Rothwell with a first and third in the race - finishing ahead of stablemate Game And Glory.

Rothwell reported afterwards: “Both my horses ran really well and Cullenwaine had been unlucky, as he needs to be ridden positively and loves good ground.

“Simon said he jumped well, got into a lovely rhythm and stayed at it well.

“He is entered over two and a half miles at Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day and, if the ground stays good, he will run.

“It has been an incredible year weather-wise, but if the ground starts to soften, he’ll get a break and come back next summer.

“I don’t think the trip is such a big thing with him, he just needs good ground.

“Jim Gilfoyle is a local owner from Toomevara and he rang me yesterday evening asking had he a chance, being a 20/1 chance.

“I told him he had a right chance, so he’ll be delighted.”