Heavy rain before racing turned the ground soft and resulted in a decimated field of just three runners lining up for the featured Kevin McManus Bookmaker Novice Chase in which Always made all.
Noel Meade's charge was sent off the 8/11 favourite, and coped best in the conditions to beat Il de Boitron by four and a half lengths with Swordplay stuck in the mud a further five lengths behind. 'The ground was probably a help to him. He's very laid back and his jumping is good, and I'll try to find another winners race for him,' said Meade.
Duneden (4/6 fav) was all the rage for the Meade/Carberry partnership in the opening Mitchelstown Maiden Hurdle but he was in trouble a long way out as Mama Jaffa prevailed under Johnny Levins. The Charlie Swan-trained filly led approaching the home turn and rallied gamely when strongly pressed by Seomra Hocht at the last to score by a neck, with Duneden making some late headway to finish a further four lengths adrift in third. 'She has been knocking on the door for a while, and handles the soft ground. She'll go for a handicap, and might revert to the Flat,' said Swan.
Favourite backers fared better in the Fleming Construction Maiden Hurdle where Ruff Justice made smooth headway for Robert Power to lead between the final two flights in beating Valley Ger by four lengths. 'The way he jumps I thought we would be going chasing with him but Robert feels he can win another over hurdles,' said Tom Mullins, saddling his seventh winner since taking out a licence earlier this year.
Oh So Lively readily justified favouritism under Paddy Flood in the Duhallow Handicap Chase, leading before four out and cruising home in the closing stages to beat Snob Wells by three lengths. 'He's won twice for Paddy this season and seems to go well for him. He's still a novice and so may go novice chasing later this year,' said trainer Edward O'Grady.
Elva Express provided Denis O'Regan with his eleventh winner of the season when getting up in the final strides to deny the front-running Delgany Toulon by a neck in the latest leg of the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle Series.
Trotsky, runner-up on his previous two outings, led entering the straight for Ruby Walsh in the Newmarket Motors Beginners Chase to beat Hitech Lass by a length and a half.
Meanwhile at Fairyhouse, Holy Orders appreciated the rain-softened ground when returning to form with a facile victory in the Listed Ballycullen Stakes. Davy Condon gave the enigmatic stayer a patient ride, travelling ominously well early in the straight and stretching clear from the furlong pole to beat Mkuzi by three and a half lengths.
Trainer Willie Mullins said afterwards by phone, 'He appreciates an ease in the ground but is an odd character and worked very ordinary during the week. I have alot of Group and Listed races in mind but the ground will dictate where he goes.'
Michael Halford was full of praise for Tadgh O'Shea after Hemaris touched off Mount Eliza in the opening two-year-old maiden. 'She had it all to do from the number one draw but Tadgh gave her a super ride to get across. She battled well and we will look for some black type now,' said Halford.
Gouache ended a frustrating sequence of placings when making all under Brian Hughes in the nursery, keeping on well inside the final furlong to hold on by half a length from Tivoli Fountain.
Michael Grassick will find a handicap for Indian's Feather who drew clear in the final 100 yards under Niall McCullagh in the seven furlongs maiden, while Jemmy John just held the late challenge of Sahara Prince in the six furlongs handicap.
Alan Magee
