DESPITE hitting the crossbar in the first three races, Darragh O’Keeffe still came away with a double, highlighted by the never-say-die success of Jungle Boogie (10/1) in the feature Savills New Year’s Day Chase.

Providing the absent Henry de Bromhead with his second consecutive win in this Grade 3 contest, the Malcolm Denmark-owned 10-year-old set out to make all.

Pushed along and headed by the smooth travelling Classic Getaway (2/5 favourite) approaching two out, the bay victor soon appeared a beaten docket. However, he rallied gamely under pressure approaching the last and regained the lead on the run-in, going on to win by a length.

The market leader ultimately found little for pressure and had to settle for second, while the fast-finishing Minella Crooner was just half a length away in third.

“Henry said to jump out and make the running. He jumped very good bar the fifth, he just got under it,” O’Keeffe reflected.

“He wasn’t beaten far the last day against the best of the two milers in Ireland and he stayed on really well.

“For a horse who is 10, he has had only five runs and been beaten just once, so obviously he has loads of ability.”

Brace completed

The Doneraile pilot didn’t have to work as hard when completing his brace aboard Rochestown in the concluding Tom Carroll Memorial Handicap Chase.

Returned the 5/2 favourite, the Brendan Walsh-trained nine-year-old was poised to challenge on the approach to two out and soon got to the front.

Despite making a few slight mistakes on the way around, the Mustameet bay stretched clear before the last and came home 11 lengths to the good in the colours of owner David O’Meara.

“The last day was his first run back and the horse that beat him (Kings Halo), was beaten by just a head yesterday, so we were hoping for a good run today,” Walsh commented.

“He was entitled to win and Darragh gave him a great ride.”

HEAVY rain throughout the afternoon resulted in testing conditions, with front-running tactics paying dividends on more than one occasion.

Trained by Martin Hassett and in the colours of the BTF Racing Club, Bynx (6/1) led her rivals from pillar to post in the Jimmy Shanahan Memorial Handicap Hurdle.

Pushed along by Sean Flanagan on the approach to the penultimate obstacle, the Vadamos six-year-old drifted left in the closing stages but still came home three and a half lengths clear of Belle The Lioness.

“When in doubt, call on Flanagan! He gave her a masterclass. I know it looks simple but he got the fractions spot-on on that ground,” Hassett enthused.

“Jamie (Bergin) is over the syndicate and has had a few doubters, but I think we shut them up today.”

Blitzing

Mount Frisco was another to make all, with the 11/2 chance blitzing his five rivals under Liam Quinlan in the two miles Core Bullion Traders Rated Novice Chase.

On his second start over fences, the Kalanisi bay jumped well in the main and stretched clear when pushed along from the second last, coming home 18 lengths to the good.

“He shows a lot more at home and was running too keen over hurdles. He is brilliant over a fence and his future lies there,” owner/trainer John Ryan stated.

“It took a while to get him going but we love this horse.”

Declan Queally and his team at Lisroe Farm are also sure to have a great fondness for Mick Charlie, with the admirable 12-year-old registering a fourth career win in the two miles five and a half furlong Tramore Medical Clinic Handicap Hurdle.

Sent straight to the front by Jack Hendrick, the easy-to-back 7/1 chance (from 7/2 early) looked destined for second when headed by Toor Moon on the approach to the penultimate obstacle.

However, that one was all at sea when in front, with the Thomas Coughlan-owned victor rallying gamely to regain the lead away from the last, going on to prevail by two and three-quarters of a length.

“He turned 12 today but he is a good sound horse and is still running away with the young lads around the gallop every day,” Queally revealed.

“I’ve been riding against Jack in point-to-points, he is class and is a very talented rider.”

THE honour of being the first winner of 2024 in Ireland and the UK went to Boldog, with the Joseph O’Brien-trained six-year-old accounting for 13 rivals in the David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle over two miles and a furlong.

Successful on his fourth start at Hexham when in the care of Stuart Crawford, the Authorized grey was returned at 5/1 on what was his debut over flights.

After racing mainly in second, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned victor improved into a definite lead before two out and kept on well from there, coming home five and a half-lengths clear of Gorgeous Tom.

“He is going to be a staying horse and he stuck it out well,” winning rider JJ Slevin remarked.

“Joseph is having a great season with his jumpers and it’s nice to have this one for Simon and Isaac.

“Daryl (Jacob, retained rider) is in Cheltenham today so I’m lucky I got to step in.”

Decisive winner

Stoke The Fire, another starting off over the smaller obstacles, was a decisive winner of the Ryans Cleaning Services Maiden Hurdle.

Carrying the colours of Middleham Park Racing Ireland for the first time, the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was returned a well-supported 5/6 favourite (from 7/4 early).

Not fluent at the first and third, the Vadamos bay was never far from the pace under Danny Mullins and got to the front after three out.

He quickly extended his advantage and eventually came home 15 lengths to the good, with just four of the eight who set out for this extended two-miles, five-furlong contest managing to complete.

“He did it well and jumps well for a flat horse. I was very happy with how he handled the ground and hopefully it’ll be the start of something,” the winning trainer divulged.

“It’s Middleham Racing’s first runner for us and he’ll probably mix it between hurdles and the flat.”