Hughes stable firing on all cylinders

JUST four weeks to the Smurfit Champion Hurdle and Dessie Hughes, trainer of reigning champion Hardy Eustace, received further proof of the well-being of his string when Akhtari and Sea Diva provided him with a 90/1 double at Punchestown yesterday.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary was present to see Akhtari, in the colours of his Gigginstown House Stud, make all to land the opening April Festival Maiden Hurdle in the hands of claimer Paddy Flood.

Bought out of John Oxx’s yard at the Newmarket Sales following a maiden win at Thurles, Akhtari was strongly pressed by both Tycoon Hall and Browny Boy turning for home but battled well to open his hurdling account.

Trainer Hughes, who believes that Akhtari will “definitely be better on better ground” has no firm plans for the son of In The Wings.

And he was pleasantly surprised when Sea Diva, a first winner in the colours of owner-breeder Charles O’Reilly, made a successful debut in the Panoramic Restaurant Mares Flat Race.

A first racecourse success for Robbie Hennessy, the lad who looks after Hardy Eustace, Sea Diva arrived on the scene late to thwart the Pat Hughes-trained Ashamdil whose rider Derek O’Connor, the reigning amateur champion, had earlier been banned for seven days for making insufficient effort on Community Dan (which finished 12th) in the opening maiden hurdle.

In addition to O’Connor’s suspension, Community Dan was banned for 42 days while trainer Martin Kinane escaped sanction, when his explanation was noted by the Stewards.

Cork amateur Colman Sweeney, enjoying a purple patch for Paul Nicholls in the last fortnight, registered his ninth success on the track when Coolnahilla, so unlucky at Naas last time, scored a long overdue success in the Rubys Double Handicap Chase.

“He has been a very unlucky little horse and deserved that,” said winning trainer Liam Burke, who confirmed that Sweeney, who has now ridden six winners in Ireland and three in Britain, will be on duty again for Paul Nicholls later this week.

Always close to the pace, Coolnahilla took command three from home but idled on the run-in and, at the line, had only a half-length to spare over Berkley.

Davy Russell, injured at Navan on Sunday, was successful on board the Francis Flood-trained G V A Ireland in the Club Fund-Raisers At Punchestown Beginners Chase ahead of high-profile weekend commitments on the Edward O’Grady pair Pizarro and Ned Kelly.

Claimer Kevin Coleman (19) reached a milestone in his blossoming career when winning the Buy Your Tickets On-Line Handicap Hurdle on Philip Walsh’s Jack The Hough.

This was Coleman’s 15th career success, which resulted in his claim being reduced from 7lb. to 5lb.

Teeming Rain, trained for JP McManus by Charlie Swan, justified hefty support in the www.punchestown.com Maiden Hurdle at the expense of Django and easy-to-back Geill Sli.

And Hasty Second, trained by Tom Hogan, defied a 6lb penalty when following-up last week’s Thurles win in the Event Centre Handicap Hurdle.