'It’s been a great start to the season' - O’Keeffe on the double in Killarney

Ladies Well & Darragh O'Keeffe win the Easyfix Handicap Steeplechase. Pic: HEALY RACING

It may be early days in the race to be crowned champion jockey but last season’s runner-up Darragh O’Keeffe has started the new jumps campaign like a man possessed and the Cork jockey enhanced his prospects with a double on day one of Killarney’s August meeting.

On a card where the final two races had to be abandoned due to there being insufficient medical cover for the meeting to continue as ambulance staff were treating injuries sustained by jockeys Joey Dunne and Paddy O’Brien, O’Keeffe, who fell just three wins short of Jack Kennedy last season, took his tally to 28 for the season when Ladies Well gave her jockey his second win of the evening by justifying 3-1 favouritism in the Easyfix Equine Handicap Chase.

“It’s been a great start to the season,” O’Keeffe said. “I’m riding for great people and I have a brilliant agent [Gary Cribbin] who is keeping me busy. We’ve over 200 rides now again already this season so hopefully we can keep kicking.” 

Leg one of the O’Keeffe double came the opening race, the Sheahan's Pharmacy 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle, where the Henry de Bromhead-trained Sea Of Dubka ran out a fortuitous winner of a race where Harmani, ridden by Jack Kennedy, took a horrible fall at the final flight with the race seemingly at his mercy.

Reflecting on how the contest unfolded, O’Keeffe said: “In fairness, Jack’s horse quickened up really well while my one is probably a good stayer. Jack came at me jumping the third last and he quickened up better and he was very unfortunate at the last.” Autumn Twist ran out an impressive winner of the feature, the GMIB Handicap Hurdle, scoring by four and a half lengths from Moylussa with Gino Bella back in third.

The Denis Hogan-trained five-year-old got within half a length of subsequent Galway Hurdle hero Putapoundinthejar at Bellewstown last month before finishing seventh in a handicap at Ballybrit last time out.

Sent off the 7-2 joint-favourite here, he got the job done in decisive fashion to give Daniel King his 20th winner of the season.

King said: “We were hoping he’d run well and he went through the race nicely and did it nicely. Hopefully he can build on that.” 

A gamble was landed in the Brehon Hotel & Spa Handicap Chase as 13-8 favourite Miner’s Bridge ran out a decisive winner for Sam Curling and Phillip Enright.

Curling said: “We fancied him, he was working very well and he came on from his last run over hurdles. He’s always been a good horse.” Asked if he feels extra pressure when the money is down, Curling added: “You would feel a bit of pressure but the horse was in good form and Philip gave a great ride. You have a lot of confidence when you have Philip riding, he keeps everything very simple and he gets the job done.” 

The Willie Mullins-trained Diamond Du Berlais was sent off the 4-9 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Hurdle and won with the ease a 4-9 shot should under Brian Hayes.

Victorious at Ludlow on her Closutton debut in February before finishing sixth in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, she came here on the back of two underwhelming runs but had little trouble getting back to winning ways, scoring by six and a half lengths at the expense of Brother Walfrid.

“She was disappointing here the last day, but was entitled to do that today,” assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said. “In fairness, our horses weren't running to their very best in July and stepping up in trip definitely helped her.

“There’s a race for her in Listowel and we're also toying with the idea of running in a mares’ race at Far Hills.” Ballystone built on an encouraging first start over fences to win the Thorn Plant Hire Beginners Chase by three lengths.

The John McConnell-trained eight-year-old, fourth on his chasing debut at Galway last month, stepped forward from that run to oblige at odds of 4-1.

Asked if he was confident of victory on the back of his Ballybrit display, winning jockey Josh Williamson said: “That was it, John was the same. Galway was his first run over fences and no matter how good they are at home they’re bound to improve for a run and he was brilliant there today, never missed a beat, and jumped brilliant.

“His jumping got me into the race really, I never had to use any petrol to get there. Hopefully there’s more to come.”