Dessie Hughes recorded a double at Gowran today where the Co Kildare trainer reported Hardy Eustace to have arrived home in 'fabulous form', at 7am this morning.
Hughes' two winners were ridden by good 5lb claimer Nicky O'Shea with the opening win coming on Walkin Aisy in the Garryrichard Stud Handicap Hurdle.
Walkin Aisy led from the fifth hurdle, made the rest, and had the beating of Premier Rouge when Davy Russell's mount fell at the final flight.
Afterwards Hughes reported 'Walkin Aisy would like better ground and gets further; he'll go chasing next season.'
An hour later Hughes' Ballyfinney proved a game winner of the Gowran Farmers Market Maiden Hurdle.
The former point to point winner is described by Hughes as 'a horse who likes soft ground and is a real three mile staying chaser in the making.'
Most appropriate winner of the day was Ballistraw's win in the Garryrichard Stud Tetratema Perpetual Cup Hunters Chase.
Owned, bred and trained by the stud's owners and race sponsors, the Hickey family in Co Wexford, Ballistraw is a son of Carroll House, who himself stands at Garryrichard Stud.
Ably ridden by Colin Motherway, Ballistraw led before the second last before accounting for 16 time point to point winner Arctic Times, by one length.
Afterwards, Denis Hickey, son of winning trainer Michael Hickey, reported 'he's a horse who makes winning tougher than it should be.'
'He has never run on good ground but we'll go for either Fairyhouse or Punchestown next.'
Feature event was the Garryrichard Stud Handicap Chase which went to Paul Nolan's Old Flame, who made all under Robbie Moran.
Nolan later stated 'Old Flame has been in great form and he probably went too quick early on last time out in the Victor Chandler Chase at Sandown.'
He added 'there are plenty of conditions races for him and we will try to win a Flat maiden with him too.'
Francis Flood's Knocknadruce was an impressive winner of the Garryrichard Stud (C & G) Bumper under James O'Farrell.
Flood later mentioned 'he had a few problems last year and we left him off and he is a horse who needs a lot of work to get fit. He'll go hurdling next.'
The opening Cheltenham Hangover Maiden Hurdle went to Charlie Swan's Far More Serious, under Denis O'Regan.
Far More Serious, a close relation to Swan's This Is Serious, raced prominently throughout, moved through to lead entering the straight before staying on for a four and a half length win.
Swan later mentioned 'that helped get some of our Cheltenham losses back but I didn't back him myself!'
He added 'he always showed us a lot at home and will go chasing next season.'
The concluding Sunnyhill Stud Mares Bumper went to Robert Tyner's Callherwhatulike, under Colman Sweeney.
