TRAPRISE - Ballinrobe proves to be a happy hunting ground for Ryan

Ballinrobe has always been a happy hunting ground for John Ryan, and the bandwagon rolled into the Mayo venue on Monday of last week and came away with yet another double when taking both divisions of the extended two-mile 80-95 handicap hurdle.

The Oscar mare Kilashee drew first blood for Ryan when stepping up in trip and making every post a winning one in the hands of claiming rider of the hands of claiming rider Shane Fitzgerald. Owned by the Bit View Partnership, the winner had some decent placed efforts to her credit over shorter trips and if repeating this level of form can be placed to further success.

Bryan Cooper, who has been an able deputy for the injured Danny Mullins, was entrusted with the mount on Father Jed in the second division. Different tactics were employed but the result was just the same as the combination came from well off the pace to take over in the straight and win going away by five lengths from the favourite Let her Flow to record his first victory in more than two years.

Ballyoisin returned from a long layoff to run out an easy winner of the two mile and furlong conditions chase.

Last seen when finishing second in the 2019 Hilly Way Chase at Cork, the Presenting gelding went to post an even money favourite and to the relief of his trainer Enda Bolger, he put in a perfect round of jumping as well as showing much of his old zest. A multiple graded winner Ballyoisin was never out of second gear to defeat Exit Poll by four and a half lengths.

In his post-race reflections, Enda Bolger revealed that his charge has more issues with his knees that the former Republic of Ireland footballer Paul McGrath and he was giving Gerry Kelly and his team at the Fethard Veterinary Clinic credit for getting him back sound after many months of treatment. If all goes to plan the Fortria Chase at Navan in November a race that he has won twice before will be his next port of call.

Ballyoisin was the second leg of a brace for owner JP McManus which was initiated by Flying Scotsman in the two mile and two handicap hurdle for four-year-olds.

Twice a winner at last year’s Galway Festival, the son of Galileo shed his maiden tag over hurdles at Navan last June, but he took a great deal of handling here before landing the spoils by a head from Varna Gold. Rider Mark Walsh had his hands full at times with Flying Scotsman and received a two-day suspension for careless riding.

O'Grady among the winners at Bellewstown

Edward O'Grady was among the winners at Bellewstown on Wednesday when Act Of God defied top weight in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle under a stylish Paul Townend ride.

Settled in midfield, Act Of God made smooth progress to dispute the lead at the second last flight before jumping the last in front and running all the way to the line where he had a length and a half to spare from Clifftop.

The step up in trip obviously suited the Camelot gelding who was winning for the fourth time and being only a six-year-old the story looks far from finished.

Group and Listed action at Tipperary

With Group 3 and Listed action down or decision as well as local stables stepping in to sponsor a couple of races, Thursday’s Tipperary card was brim-full of interest.

The feature event was the Group 3 Coolmore Stud No Nay Never Fairy Bridge Stakes over an extended seven furlongs and it fell to the Paddy Twomey trained Pearls Galore under a super Billy Lee ride.

Attracting good market attention, the daughter of Invincible Spirit was always close to the pace. Lee produced her entering the final furlong and she quickened up well to defeat Roca Roma by a length and a half.

In his post-race debrief, Twomey revealed that his charge, who had taken the Group 3 Brownstown Stakes at Leopardstown on her previous outing, was in such good form at home that it would be a pity to bypass this race. She has now earned a crack at Group 1 company before retiring to the breeding paddocks and the trainer has pencilled in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Champions Weekend.

Joe Murphy had a good old-fashioned tilt at the ring with White Lavender in the Listed five-furlong Abergwaun Stakes and he looked a shade unlucky not to collect.

Backed from 33/1 into 2/1, the Heeraat filly was slowly away and came from the tail of the field but incurred minor traffic problems, however, she finished like an express train only to fail by a fast-diminishing neck to catch Master Matt.

A relatively unexposed filly, White Lavender looks to be a decent prospect and if settled closer to the pace can make her mark at this level.

Ger Lyons is having a beano with his juveniles and he added further to his tally when Panama Red Landed the Camas Park Stud fillies maiden over an extended seven furlongs.

Breaking smartly for Colin Keane, the daughter of Showcasing was always up with the pace, she was asked to quicken at the two-furlong marker and did so impressively to lead a furlong later and keep on strongly to hit the wire a length and a half to the good from the Aidan O'Brien trained History.

Shane Lyons, who is the brother and assistant trainer to Ger, revealed that Panama Red is still a little on the weak side but is improving with every passing day. She is also pencilled in for Champions Weekend with the Listed Ingabelle Stakes as her target, but she is really a filly for next year.

Nebo, from the Tom Hogan yard, started joint favourite for the seven-furlong Meadowview Stables race but after setting a cracking pace was run out of it in the final half furlong and had to be content with fourth place.

Victory went to the Jim Bolger trained Geometrical who was never too far out of his ground and responded well to the urgings of Kevin Manning in the closing stages to take the money by two and three-quarter lengths from Maud Gonne Spirit. Una Manning, the daughter of Jim Bolger who now represents her father at all race meetings, told me that the winner is going to the horses in training sale in October and is a type to do well over hurdles.

Keane records fastest century in History

Colin Keane, who is setting a blistering pace to retain his jockeys crown, created history at his local track on the Curragh on Saturday when he reached the fastest century of winners ever recorded in the Irish jockey’s championship when he partnered Barretta to take the mile maiden for three-year-olds and upwards for his retaining stable of Ger Lyons. For good measure he made it 101 for the season aboard Dollar Value in the mile and six 45-65 handicap later in the afternoon.