FOURTH in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March and the sole Willie Mullins-trained representative on the Thurles Thursday card, Lecky Watson got off to a winning start over hurdles but was made to work hard to justify odds of 4/7 in the two-mile seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Keen early on and settled just off the pace, the Slaneyville Syndicate-owned five-year-old took closer order after three out but looked vulnerable when ridden on the approach to the last.

To his credit, he battled gamely on the run-in and ultimately outstayed his rivals, getting the better of the gallant Rushmount by a neck.

“It surprised me with him being so keen early on that he was able to pull it out,” Townend reflected.

“He is a lovely horse for the winter, hopefully he can keep developing and eventually he’ll be a chaser.”

Mollys Mango also made the perfect start to life over flights, as she comfortably accounted for 14 rivals in the Templemore Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Successful in a bumper at Cork last season and subsequently placed in listed company, the Gordon Elliott-trained, Caldwell Construction Ltd-owned bay was sent to post the clear favourite at 1/2.

In front before the third under Jack Kennedy, she was closed upon approaching the straight but increased her advantage on the run to the final flight, going on to score comfortably by five and a half lengths.

“We’ve always liked her and she jumped great,” Kennedy said. “She was very straightforward and will probably be better over a trip in time.”

DESPITE being the lowest rated runner in the line-up, 20/1 chance Dragon’s Pass came out on top in the Ballagh Mares Handicap Hurdle.

After filling the runner-up spot on three of her five previous starts, the Denise Foster-trained seven-year-old certainly wasn’t winning out of turn.

Carrying the colours of the executors of the late Peter Newell, the now three-time winner was settled in mid-division by Sam Ewing, taking closer order when pushed along approaching the straight.

She gained a narrow lead before the final flight and battled on gamely when ridden on the run-in, getting the better of the hat-trick seeking Costanuci by a length and three quarters.

“I’m delighted because she is a real tough mare who is no world-beater but does her best,” Foster commented. “Peter, who bred her, passed away a few years ago but his brothers Hugh and Evan have kept the show on the road and I’m delighted for them.”

Reeling

Punters were again left reeling after the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction INH Flat Race, with Cola Breeze springing a 25/1 surprise.

Bought for just €1,500 as a three-year-old, the Nigel Slevin-trained bay finished down the field on her only previous start in the Tattersalls Ireland Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse.

Never far from the pace under teenager Finn Brickley, she improved into a close second shortly after halfway and soon made further progress to dispute the lead. One of just two fillies in the line-up, she established an outright advantage early in the straight and despite wandering inside the final furlong, she soon stretched clear and came home six lengths to the good.

“Today wasn’t a surprise. My brother Rory owns her and bought her to race her, but if there was money offered, you’d never know, she could be sold,” Slevin revealed.

Returned the 8/11 favourite, Charlie Buckett disappointingly pulled up and ‘scoped badly’ post-race, while Phidelma Elvin was given a four-day ban for using her whip with excessive frequency on Fernhill Fling.

Another cheaply bought three-year-old claimed the Littleton Handicap Chase, with Name Me Famous registering a fourth career success in this two-and-a-quarter mile contest.

Purchased for just €2,500 at Tattersalls in 2019, the Eoin McCarthy-trained seven-year-old was sent off an easy-to-back 12/1 chance (6/1 early) in the colours of Denis Enright.

With Dundaniel (16/5 favourite) making a mistake at the last when leading, the chesnut victor took full advantage and soon hit the front under Daniel King, battling on gamely in the closing stages to get the better of the market leader by three quarters of a length.

“We couldn’t get him right after he last won,” McCarthy disclosed. “He seems to be back on an even keel and is jumping well, having lost his confidence. He is a lovely tough honest horse and is a stable pet.”

BATTLE Of Ridgeway (13/2 from 7/2 early) was the most impressive winner of the afternoon, with the Martin Hassett-trained five-year-old proving far too good for his rivals in the opening Sign Up To GavinLynchRacing.com Beginners Chase.

In a race restricted to horses rated 102 or less over hurdles, the Brian Hayes-ridden Califet gelding made good headway through the field from six out.

In front after the penultimate obstacle, he had all his rivals off the bridle entering the straight and soon had matters under control, going on to register an easy 11-length success in the colours of David O’Mahoney Electrical Services Ltd.

“To be honest, I thought he’d take a run,” Hassett divulged. “It was Thurles, it’s near home, and I thought it was a nice start over fences. He looked a bit better than them boys and we’ll go back over hurdles now.”

There was a much closer conclusion to the Two-Mile Borris Handicap Hurdle, with Duke Otto coming from last to first to follow-up on a recent Tramore success.

Given a patient ride by Gary Noonan, the Pat Flynn-trained five-year-old raced in rear for much of this two-mile contest and still trailed the field upon clearing three out.

Owned by the Duke Of Saxony Syndicate, the 9/1 chance (from 9/2) made good headway in the straight and found another gear when ridden away from the last, getting up in the dying strides to deny Herculaneum by a neck.

“The horse he beat the last day (Star Official) came out and won since,” Noonan remarked.

“I was quietly confident today, although the last day at Tramore was a small bit more straightforward.”