TIPPERARY’s mixed Sunday card saw some short-priced favourites turned over.

The going on the flat course was heavy, soft in places and the jumps courses was soft.

The Grade 3 BoyleSports Novice Hurdle had three Willie Mullins-trained runners and victory went to the outsider of the three, the Blackrock Racing Syndicate’s Williamstowndancer (15/2) by two and three-quarter lengths under Danny Mullins from Bialystok and the Henry de Bromhead-trained favourite Birdie Or Bust back in third.

Danny Mullins said afterwards of the Beat Hollow five-year-old: “She has her own method of jumping but it seems to be effective. I think I got it wrong in Galway the last day and we were hoping a change of tactics might bring out the best in her.

“She’s only small but handles that ground and it’s a pleasing performance. It’s nice to win a graded race with her.”

Disappointment

Mullins suffered disappointment in the other jumps feature, the two-mile Grade 3 Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle when Guinness Galway Hurdle winner Zarak The Brave, the 1/8 favourite in the three-runner race, was pulled up after half-way (vet reported gelding was clinically abnormal).

The David L’Estrange-owned Fils D’oudairies and Jack Kennedy made all and were six lengths ahead at halfway when his rival was pulled up.

Jack Kennedy said of the Elliott winner: “I wasn’t aware at all (Zarak The Brave had pulled up). My lad was fairly lairy on his own in front and I was waiting for Paul to land up outside me.

“It was only when I was pulling up I realised that he’d pulled up over the far side. It’s grand for the horse to get another one on the board.”

Paul Townend later reported on the favourite: “He was never going from an early stage. There was no point in following them around and ending up on the floor. He’s sound and we still have a horse and he is only four.”

Eagle battles

Kennedy and Elliott completed a quick double in the next race, the two-mile Racing TV Handicap Hurdle when Royal Eagle (4/1) just got the better of a prolonged battle with Double Pink to win by a short-head. The five-year-old Free Eagle mare sports the colours of David Monaghan, Adam Lord and Paddy Monaghan

Jack Kennedy said: “She probably wasn’t in love with the ground but she gives you everything and she tried her heart out.

“Her best form is on better ground and it’s not loose ground, it’s kind of tacky. She’s unbelievably tough and if there were a few more like her around the place it would be great.”

ORDER was restored for team Mullins in the next, the Grade 3 O’Dwyer Steel Dundrum Novice Chase when stable stalwart Sharjah (8/15) had little trouble in notching up a quick second success at his new discipline, winning by 12 lengths.

Susannah Ricci’s 10-year-old jumped well, disputed the lead, was clear before two out and went further clear on the run-in.

Paul Townend reported: “He loves it and is always looking for the next fence. He knows what he’s at over his fences and has a real good appetite for it.

“He was brave over hurdles and was a long time at the top level where they are measuring them quite well. He’s a fast, economical jumper so that will help him more over a fence than a hurdle. He’s gone two and a half now and that opens more doors for him.

“For another while he’ll have the benefit of having had a few runs and race fitness and experience.”

Switch success

The concluding Peppermill Restaurant Nenagh Fillies INH Flat Race over two miles went to Seamus Fahey’s Switch From Diesel (7/1) under Ray Barron.

The Yeats filly was building on two Ballinrobe second place finishes and hitting the front over two out, she ran green but was kept up to her work to see off Ma Belle Etoile and come away for a three-length win in the colours of Paul Mullins.

Winning trainer Fahey said: “She was very green when she hit the front but she battled it out well. She is a lovely mare to look forward to and Paul (Mullins, owner) tells me she’s not for sale so that’s an even bigger plus.

“She has to travel in a jeep and horsebox, she will not travel in a lorry. She might go on holidays now but we’ll have to discuss it.”

THE flat feature was the Listed Coolmore Sioux Nation Concorde Stakes over seven and a half furlongs and it went to Joseph O’Brien’s Snapraeterea (9/2) from two outsiders Bells On Her Toes and Statement, with favourite Insinuendo well held in fourth.

Declan McDonogh’s mount answered his urgings to come with her challenge on the stands’ rails and get up in the final 50 yards for a three-quarter-length success in the colours of J.P. Farrell.

Winning rider Declan McDonogh said: “I was following Dunum (well beaten and eased up) but he wasn’t bringing me into the race and I had to go around him four out and the race was getting away on me a bit but he’s dug deep and handles extreme conditions well.

“He was a bit slow in the gates a couple of times so today we put a rug on him and blind-folded him and that made him jump properly.

“To bounce him out five days after Cork was a big ask but he was well up for it.”

Simply does it

Tim Doyle’s Simply Sideways (13/2) won her third race in a row in the last month in the nine-furlong Fitzgerald’s Woodlands House Hotel Handicap. Ridden by Wayne Hassett, the six-year-old chesnut came to challenge on the outer a furlong and a half out and showed a nice turn of speed to go away from Trachonitus for a two and three-quarter-length success in the colours of Mrs Claire Doyle.

Tim Doyle said: “That surprised me as I thought it was a competitive handicap but Wayne said she travelled all the way and on that ground she was well able to quicken.

“She’s taking it all in her stride and it’s amazing how much she has improved (won off 64, rated 81 here). We might give her one shot at a listed race in Naas in a fortnight’s time.

“The horses are healthy and well and she has been the flagbearer. I ride her out myself every day and her work has improved from every run. She has a great temperament and is very relaxed. She does what she has to do on the track, the ideal horse for a lad like me!”

Zippy Zaphod

The opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for two-year-olds over a mile and a furlong went to the John O’Donoghue-trained debutant Zaphod (15/2), partnered by Ronan Whelan for Dr Marcella Burns.

The Zarak newcomer was slowly away but put in a sustained run in the last two furlongs to get the better of the more experienced Rapid Mission and, despite flashing his tail, went on to a four-length success with the second six lengths clear of the remainder.

John O’Donoghue said afterwards: “We don’t ever really rev ours up first time and you could see that, he missed the kick and took a bit of time to get into his stride but once he did, he raced lovely.

“The last half a dozen pieces of work he’s done have been on grass and when I saw the rain we knew he’d handle it.

“We were second in this race last year with Kingswood so we knew the type of race it was going to be. Herbertstown Stud were kind enough to send him to me early in the season, so we’ll speak to them first before putting any plans forward.”