JUST three runners went to post for the Kilsaran Race over a mile and half at Bellewstown on Thursday.

Bringing up a double on the card, Joseph O’Brien’s Magnum Cor, owned by Millennium Stud, wore down front-running market rival Abbotsford to win by three-quarters of a length.

Joey Sheridan said of the 10/11 favourite: “It was only his third run, so he just needed a couple to waken him up. The ground is quite dead, but a bit of class got him through it. He’ll get a mile and six no problem.”

Straightforward success

Duchess Of Kenli (6/1) was the first leg of the double for O’Brien, when taking the five-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap over a mile.

Janine Byrne’s daughter of Goken, a maiden winner at Gowran in July, led inside the final furlong to account for Excuzio Joe by a length and three-quarters.

Julian Pietropaolo said: “It was very straightforward. I jumped good from the gates and I went forward and sat box seat, and travelled well going around. When the gap seemed to open, she quickened up well and hit the line good.”

Seven-length romp

The Racing TV Nursery over a mile saw Sister Nancy run out an emphatic winner under Ben Coen. Running in her first handicap, the daughter of Masar was well backed into 9/4 in a field of five.

Coen settled her in rear and got a lovely run through on the inner to slam Cromane by seven lengths.

It was a seventh winner of the campaign (four of them at stakes level) for Danny McLoughlin, who trains the winner for the On The Market Syndicate.

“We always thought the slow ground would suit her,” explained Coen. “She actually ran okay here early on in the year, and it has just taken a while to get her to do things right in her races.”

ON start number 11, White Sand Beach finally got her head in front in the Bellewstown Inn Fillies’ Maiden over a mile.

Jack Cleary kept things simple on the 6/5 favourite and made all to beat Xiribella by two and a half lengths.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore partners, the daughter of Dubawi is out of triple Group 1 winner Alice Springs.

“She pinged the lids and I got an easy lead throughout,” reported the 5lb-claimer. “Aidan has been very good to me throughout the season, so it is nice to be able to repay him.”

Big Bill battles best

The Bluegrass Horse Feed Handicap over a mile resulted in victory for the Aidan Melia-trained Big Bill (4/1).

Fifth on his seasonal debut at Down Royal just three days earlier, the Michelle Connolly-owned gelding travelled well in first-time cheek pieces.

He moved a couple of lengths clear over a furlong out, but was all out to hold the staying-on Arizona Star by half a length at the line.

After his 21st winner of the campaign, Reese Holohan remarked: “He actually ran a cracker the last day, a mile and three probably stretched him a small bit. It was a mile today and I was confident that he would be able to travel.”

Bear too Cool

Blinkered for the first time, and making just his second start over five furlongs, One Cool Bear (17/2) made the breakthrough in the Johnny Kierans Memorial Handicap.

Having tracked the leaders under Adam Caffrey, the three-year-old headed Ballysax Lil’ Mick inside the final furlong to score by half a length.

Winning trainer Ado McGuinness commented: “The owner John Ryan is a big National Hunt man, has had a lot of horses with Tom Cooper, and used to be a former Forpadydeplasterer man as well. He has bred him and it is great to get a win for the mare as well.

“I said that an ease in the ground today would be a big help to him and he had a nice draw.”

RUNNER-up over course and distance on the first day of this two-day fixture in 2025, Maxwell Smart went one better in the first division of the Boyle Sports Handicap over a mile and a half.

Pushed along at stages by James Ryan, the five-year-old, owned by Mrs Pauline McCourt, the Whyte’s Stamullen Syndicate, Donal O’Leary and James McNally, improved to lead over a furlong out and stayed on well to account for Anightaway by four and a quarter lengths.

Winning trainer Tom McCourt explained: “He was just getting outpaced all year. He won’t race up into the back of horses but, once he got him out wide, he picked up well.

“He’s a quirky sort of a horse, but definitely the slow ground was a help. We’ll keep him busy and will go over hurdles as well.”

Donegal excellence

The second division of the Boyle Sports Handicap over a mile and a half saw six-time all-weather winner Autocrat gain a first victory on turf.

The 3/1 favourite made headway on the outer in the straight and was ridden to lead a furlong out, forging on under Donegal native Luke McAteer to beat Among The Pines by a length and three-quarters.

“I put a big investment into a big gallop, deep sand, so it seems to be working,” said winning owner/trainer Paul Sweeney.

“It is bringing the horses on and hardening them up. I’m right beside the Donegal GAA Centre of Excellence up in Convoy, where the Donegal team train. Donegal excellence of horse racing now, hopefully! All we need now is new horses and owners!”