'Everything went right today' - Elliott pleased with Kilbeggan outing

Combs and Danny Gilligan win for owner Mrs P Sloan and trainer Gordon Elliott. Pic: Healy Racing

Gordon Elliott and Danny Gilligan combined to win the divisions of the Star Your Racing TV Free Trial Maiden Hurdle, with First Ascent and Combs respectively, in rain-soaked Kilbeggan.

And the all-the-way success of 104-rated First Ascent in the opener, a 14-lengths defeat of 125/1 shot Blue Johnl, was particularly sweet for Elliott, who explained, “The Egans, Martin and Alan, are part-owners of this fellow – they’re with me a long time and owned my first winner, Arresting, over in Perth, 20 years ago. 

“He learned a lot and sharpened up for his last run here. And the cheekpieces helped him. He won well and will stay further.” 

Rated 116, the highly-tried Combs opened his hurdling account at the eighth attempt, in the second division, proving too strong for Goeasyonme and well-backed, eye-catcher Telegram Sam.

“He’s been disappointing but, on ratings, it was his race to lose,” stated the trainer, “Everything went right today – he jumped well and did things right. He’ll go back into handicap and might go for the ‘Lartigue’ n Listowel.” 

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Splendid Fellow (119) justified 4/7 favouritism in the RED MILLS EBF Auction & Median Maiden Hurdle, getting first run before beating market rival Rokanako by nine and a half lengths.

The five-year-old was a 36th winner of the season for trail-blazing Darragh O’Keeffe, who stated, “He had the form to win from last winter and deserved it. I would have been happy to go forward, but we went a nice gallop and I was able to hang on to him. He stays really well and it’s great that he got his head in front.” 

Once-raced Walk In The Park mare Pat O’s Rock completed a double for de Bromhead when making all and bolting-up by 12 lengths in the mares bumper, giving John Gleeson a third win from his last four rides.

Earlier, the de Bromhead team was denied a double when their 4/5 favourite Tutu Twist was foiled by four-year-old Not In a Hurry, trained for J P McManus by Aidan Howard, who swooped under Simon Torrens on the run-in to take the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Maiden Hurdle.

“The ease in the ground helped and Simon gave him a grand ride – he’ll go handicapping now,” said the owner’s representative Frank Berry.

Oliver McKiernan and Phillip Enright completed a 71/1 with Chemdawg and Warmer Days Ahead in the handicap hurdle action, a brace executed in contrasting styles.

Successful over course and distance back in April, made all to take the Midland Breeders Mares Handicap Hurdle, holding the late surge of Larkins Lane and prompting Enright to admit, “I got a nice start. She winged the first few hurdles and I was able to dictate things. She made her only mistake at the last, but landed running and stayed going.” 

In contrast, Enright arrived late on Warmer Days Ahead (nibbled into 11/1 in the market) to thwart Blue Reed in the Clarke’s Bar Mullingar Handicap Hurdle.

“He surprised us,” stated Oliver McKiernan, “He bled badly the last day and has had bits of issues, so we didn’t know what to expect. Phillip rode him wide and he finished strong. I think he’ll be a better horse over fences and will probably mix it.” 

And in-form Andy Slattery struck again when Call My Name (Adam Ryan) ran out a wide-margin winner of the Jim Ryan Racecourse Pro-Am Flat Race.