WILLIE Mullins has introduced some smart types at Tramore in recent years and the champion trainer bookended this card with a short-priced double, as Karniquet and Sortudo both scored in impressive fashion.

A clear blue sky made for a pleasant afternoon, but the low-lying sun proved a spoil sport, as the final two hurdles were omitted in all four hurdle races on the card.

Just four hurdles were jumped in the opening 2025 Annual Badge At Tramore Racecourse Maiden Hurdle, a race won by Gaelic Warrior two years ago, and Karniquet readily landed odds of 4/5.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned son of Kapgarde stretched clear from market rival Downmexicoway in the final furlong to score by an easy 11 lengths.

Winning rider Paul Townend was impressed, saying: “I loved the way he went through the race. Obviously, we only jumped a couple of hurdles, but he’d two runs over hurdles in France and is well able to jump. He’s entitled to come on a bit from it as well and he gave me a lovely feeling.”

Improvement to come

Sortudo, runner-up on his only point-to-point start for Sam Curling last spring, completed the Mullins double in the Garrarus Beach (Ladies Pro/Am) Flat Race.

The Michael Feeley-owned 2/5 favourite quickened clear inside the final furlong under Jody Townend to beat Pounds At A Time by a comfortable five and a half lengths.

Patrick Mullins represented his father, saying: “Authorized is a brilliant sire and Jody did well to get him settled. I think there should be a lot of improvement in him. We’ll see how he comes out of the race and look at Leopardstown over Christmas. He could be at the top end of our bumper horses.”

The Great Nudie supplying the first leg of a brace for Sean Flanagan \ Healy Racing

SEAN Flanagan partnered a 53/1 double aboard The Great Nudie and Roxhill Roise. Point-to-point winner The Great Nudie made a successful switch to hurdles in the two-mile, five-furlong New Years Day Discount Tickets Online Mares Maiden Hurdle.

The Colin Bowe-trained four-year-old, supported from 12/1 into 8/1, reeled in the front-running 7/4 favourite Sainte Tartare over a furlong out to beat that rival by three-quarters of a length. The pair pulled 15 lengths clear of Slotty Dotty in third.

Flanagan said: “I’m delighted to ride a winner for Leo (McArdle, owner), as we go back a long way and also for Colin, who I worked for back in the day.

“She jumps really well, and I think she’d have won easier with the last two hurdles in. She’s hardy, stays well and handled the (soft to heavy) ground.”

Roxhill Roise, successful in a maiden over course and distance back in April, again showed her liking for this venue in the Book A Table For New Years Day Mares Handicap Hurdle.

The David O’Brien-trained 5/1 chance was again prominent throughout and kept on well in the closing stages to get the better of Lilian Bland by half a length.

“She’s a lovely mare and I’m delighted for the lads (Cairde Gaoil Syndicate),” said locally-based O’Brien.

“She got an infection from a tiny bit of birch after her last run at Gowran, which set her back a bit and I was a little concerned about the ground after missing a bit of work, but she’s done it well. She’ll make a nice mare over fences, as she won her point-to-point well.”

Keith Donoghue was the second jockey to score a double on the card with Jouster opening the account \ Healy Racing

KEITH Donoghue was another rider in double form, moving onto the 37-winner mark for the season, when successful aboard Jouster and Portarlington.

Jouster was second on his chasing debut here last month and went one better in the Eddie McDonald Outstanding Contribution Award Winner 2024 Beginners Chase, staying on best on the run-in to beat 9/4 favourite Pipers Boreen by three-quarters of a length.

“He’s done it well. Obviously, he had a good run here the last day and his jumping was better today,” said Donoghue of the 3/1 chance, trained by Gavin Cromwell for the Strawberry Seven Syndicate.

“We got a better jump at the last than we did here the last day and that won it for me. Hopefully, he can keep progressing and win one or two more.”

Donoghue completed a quickfire 51/1 double in the following Ladies Cove Handicap Chase, when teaming up with his brother Ian to score with Portarlington.

The five-year-old gelding only joined the Meath trainer in the past two months and is certainly proving an inspired acquisition, having also won recently over hurdles at Fairyhouse.

Prominent

The 12/1 chance was prominent throughout in this two-mile, five-furlong event and kept on strongly from the last to beat Bite That by three and three-quarter lengths.

“The first day we ran him in Limerick, the ground was too quick and Keith said he didn’t come down the hill. He told us that day that he’d win the next day and he was right,” said Ian Donoghue.

“He has plenty of knee action and handled the ground well. It’s great for the boys (Pipe Down Syndicate), as it’s only their second horse with me and that’s three winners now, so it’s great.”

Danesfort Mayfly overcame some traffic problems to open her account in the 2025 Group Package Deals Online Handicap Hurdle.

The 10/1 chance, trained by Bill Lanigan for Sloane and Joe Cooper, was continually pestered by the loose Fortuna Lora (unseated rider at the fourth hurdle), but got on top in the closing stages to beat He Fitz In by two and a half lengths.

Winning rider Danny Mullins said afterwards: “We had plenty of hassle on the way around. The loose horse gave me hell for about a circuit and a half and, lucky enough, she got through the wings of the second last and the last and ran out a good winner.”