LESS than 24 hours on from his Midlands National triumph, Conor Stone Walsh again hit the headlines when guiding Railway Hurricane to victory in the feature Micheal O’Murchadha Memorial Handicap Chase.

A runner-up on his two previous visits to Bettyville, the Gavin Cromwell-trained nine-year-old was given a patient ride.

Poised to challenge behind the leaders approaching the straight, the Shane O’Brien and Darren Cahill-owned bay was short of room on the run to two out.

Soon switched, the 7/1 chance gained a narrow lead before the last and extended his advantage when ridden on the run-in, coming home two and a quarter lengths to the good.

“He just needs everything to go right for him, but he is a great money spinner for the lads, he is always paying his way and he stuck it out well to the line,” the winning rider, who is from the nearby village of Cleariestown, commented.

Bounce back

Locals were also to the fore in the Visit Wexford.ie Beginners Chase, with Monbeg Park bouncing back to form in this 14-runner heat.

Ultimately disappointing since his Punchestown Festival success last year, the Walk In The Park seven-year-old was fitted with cheekpieces and a tongue-strap for the first time.

Sent to post a well-supported 11/4 chance, the 130-rated bay raced mainly in second under J.J. Slevin, improving into a narrow lead on the approach to two out.

While not fluent there, he ultimately stayed on best away from the last and was a length and three-quarters clear of the front-running Caesar Rock (33/1) at the line.

“We were just throwing everything at it today and I’d say the cheekpieces probably helped him to get his confidence back,” Sean Doyle, who trains the winner for his brother Donnchadh, remarked: “There is a novice handicap at Cheltenham in November and we will work back from that.”

Sibling success

There was further sibling success in the Fleadh Cheoil Wexford Handicap Chase, with Our Bobby defying top-weight under Eoin Walsh.

Trained by John Burke and owned by his sister Elaine, the recent Tipperary third was returned the 5/2 favourite (from 7/2).

Making gradual progress on the final circuit, the now four-time winner came with his challenge away from the last and soon got to the front before coming home a length and a quarter to the good.

Always prominent, the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Finnians Row had to settle for second, two-lengths clear of stable companion Malton Grove in third.

FIRST time cheekpieces worked the oracle on Sunshine Diamond, as he comfortably dismissed 13 rivals under Conor McNamara in the Visit Wexford Maiden Hurdle.

Available at 33/1 in early shows for this three-mile heat, the Notnowcato bay came in for support and went off a 12/1 chance in the colours of owner George Williams.

Trained in Co Kilkenny by Liam O’Brien, the five-year-old quickly settled matters when sent to the front approaching two out and was eight lengths clear of Marv Michael (5/2 favourite) at the line.

“He ran well the last day but was a little bit green, so we put the cheekpieces on to help him concentrate a bit better and they obviously worked,” O’Brien reflected.

“He is a proper horse and is a chaser in the making. I think he’ll go to Doncaster now, his owners are sellers.”

Definite advantage

Another Co Kilkenny handler struck in the concluding Racing Again 24th July Mares INH Flat Race, with Field A Thistles justifying 11/4 favouritism (from 7/2) for Mags Mullins.

On her sixth start, the Mount Nelson bay was always towards the head of affairs under Declan Lavery and gained a definite advantage on entering the straight.

Soon ridden, she needed to be kept up to her work all the way to the line, just holding off the late surge of well-bred debutant Meitheal by a nose.

“She deserved that. It’s lovely to pick up the ITBA bonus today and she might go to Galway now,” Mullins, who co-owns the winner with Kieran Leavy and Lorcan Cribbin, stated.

Perfect punters

Punters also got it right in the opening Shamrock Enterprises Maiden Hurdle, with the Roger Brookhouse-owned Nouvotic (13/8 favourite) providing Henry de Bromhead with his eighth winner in the last fortnight.

Bought by current connections for £90,000 after finishing second in a point-to-point, the 115-rated bay got to the front before two out and soon went on under Rachael Blackmore, coming home two and three quarter lengths clear.

“He had some good runs to his name and was entitled to do that today,” stable representative Robbie Power explained.

UNINSPIRING form meant Getaway Henry was sent off the outsider of the field for the second division of the Tote Handicap Hurdle, but he belied odds of 33/1 to provide Co Cork handler Danny O’Leary with a first success.

With the field of 14 bunched together for much of this extended two-mile contest, the 80-rated bay got to the front under Donagh Meyler on the turn for home and was ridden on the approach to the last.

Soon pressed by The Striker Dylan (4/1 favourite), the Knockgloss Racing Syndicate-owned seven-year-old proved game on the run-in and held off the effort of the market leader by half a length.

“That’s my first winner and I only have one horse. I have the licence about five or six years and we were due a winner,” O’Leary revealed.

“My father and uncle always had racehorses, we are farmers though and this is kind of a hobby.”

Big price

Another 33/1 shot almost claimed the opening division of this 80-95 rated heat, with Ballycommon Chapel going down to the Liam Burke-trained Johnny Clarke by just half a length.  

Second over the course and distance in May, the bay victor was pushed along to challenge the front-running Tingarran Express approaching two out and soon took over, before keeping on well in the closing stages.

“He had a good run the last day and I thought coming away from it that I was unlucky. It was his first run in a handicap and he was sharper for it today,” winning rider Darragh O’Keeffe said of the Richard Browne-owned seven-year-old.