JONATHAN Sweeney is operating at a 50% strike rate so far this campaign, with the shrewd Co Cork handler responsible for Glannagaullitehous, the well-backed winner of the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race.

Available at 9/4 in early shows for this two-mile contest, the Ol’ Man River bay eventually went off the 8/11 favourite in the colours of the Apex Flight Syndicate.

Given a patient ride by Adam Ryan, the chesnut five-year-old took closer order with half a mile to race and was pushed along to lead just inside the furlong pole.

She readily increased her advantage when ridden in the closing stages and came home two and a quarter lengths in front of Sam Curling’s Reel Orange.

“We fancied her and we bred her as well which makes it all the sweeter,” Sweeney stated.

“I wouldn’t like to be running her on quick ground, she handles soft well. She is well-schooled and jumps a hurdle and a fence.”

Favouritism

The Willie Mullins-trained Ninth Titan (6/4) was another to justify favouritism, as he made all in the Try Racing TV For Free At Racingtv.com/freetrial Maiden Hurdle.

Down the field on his debut for current connections at Galway in August, the Wootton Bassett entire dominated from the front and eased clear after the penultimate obstacle.

A slight mistake at the last did little to halt his momentum, with the Pimlico Racing Ireland-owned six-year-old coming home seven and a half lengths to the good.

“He is a huge horse for around here and he was dossing a bit in front,” Townend commented.

“He enjoys a bit of nice ground and that was against him in Galway. Hopefully he can build on this.”

BRIAN Hayes continued his remarkable association with Sweet Kiln and the Bowe family, when guiding Wolfhill (8/1) to victory in the Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Now Maiden Hurdle.

The Co Cork native was successful aboard the 10-time winner at Graun Hill in 2008 and has since partnered all five of her progeny to victory, with Wolfhill the latest of them.

Given a patient ride, the 93-rated six-year-old crept into contention before three out and travelled best to lead approaching the next. The Jet Away bay soon went on and while not fluent at the last, he still had three lengths to spare at the line.

“He is a good-looking horse and he needed good ground. He also needed a bit of time,” John Bowe reflected.

Remarkable association

“Brian has a remarkable association with the family. Rock Road, Aunt Alice, Sweet Sting and Kiln Time are the other progeny of Sweet Klin he has won on.”

Hayes earlier had to settle for second aboard Tingarran Express (13/8 favourite) in the racingtv.com/freetrial Handicap Hurdle, with this 16-runner affair won by Slieve Bearnagh.

On what was his first spin over flights, Josh Halford partnered this 16/1 chance (touched 40s early) for his father Mick, who trains the Zoffany bay in partnership with Tracey Collins.

Engaged in a ding-dong tussle with the market leader from before the second last, the Paul Rooney-owned victor ultimately kept on best in the closing stages to win by half-a-length.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Mam and Dad, they are the most hardworking people I know and I can’t thank them enough,” the successful rider, who has already won two bumpers, remarked. “I’ll stay amateur for a while, I just want to pick up as much experience as possible. I’ll play it by ear, but I love race riding.”

First over fences

Jake Coen also broke new ground when registering a first win over fences on Purse Price in the opening Watch Racing With Free Trial Now Mares Beginners Chase

Settled in third behind the front-running Miss Oreo, the Gordon Elliott-trained 12/1 chance (20s early) went second with just over a circuit to race.

Pushed along to lead before two out, the Pioneer Racing-owned seven-year-old soon asserted and while not fluent at the last, she had eight lengths to spare at the line. The favourite at 1/2, Implicit was beaten a long way from home and pulled up, with her rider Paul Townend reporting that his mount never travelled and made a respiratory noise in running.

“That’s my first winner for Gordon,” Coen revealed. “She was brilliant and was like a handicapper going around there, she jumped very well.”

AFTER registering his initial track success at the age of 11 in October, Greenway Machine (14/1) added to his tally in the Racing TV Free Month Trial Handicap Chase.

Racing off a mark of 73, the imposing Helen Markham-trained bay was settled in third by Cian Cullinan, taking over from Ennemi Public on the approach to two out.

However, the long-time leader battled back gamely, with the Peter Killeen-owned victor ultimately staying on best in the closing stages to prevail by three-quarters of a length.

Jordan Gainford was aboard Ennemi Public and he was later handed a seven-day suspension for whip offences.

“He is a lovely horse, an absolute cracker,” Markham enthused of the now 12-year-old. “Once he is turning and twisting it keeps his mind right. The likes of Downpatrick and down here suit him.”

Early Arrival is another that clearly enjoys the undulations of Tramore, with the nine-year-old registering his second track success in the Racing TV Supporting Irish Racing Handicap Hurdle.

Canny ride

Sent off a 4/1 joint-favourite, the Jimmy Barcoe-trained bay was given a canny ride by Kieran Callaghan, racing prominently on the wide outside.

In a definite lead after three out, he was left further clear when the chasing Down The Park slipped up on the bend before the next, badly hampering Queen Jane who then unseated.

Owned by the Bigger Picture Partnership, the nine-year-old victor soon had matters firmly under control and eventually came home 12-lengths clear of Glendine Billy.

“Kieran done the same on the filly (Hollow Spark, third at 100/1) earlier and felt the better ground was out there. It was brave out of him to be the odd one out but thank God it worked,” Barcoe said.