ARCH Enemy brought her up 11th career success in the Paddy Woods Memorial Apprentice Series Final Handicap and rewarded jockey Adam Grant’s initiative in the process.

The grey mare was positioned in mid-division, and her progress saw her take over inside the final quarter mile.

She faced down a challenge from Miss Australie in the closing stages to win by half a length at 9/1 for the Black Steel Square Syndicate. Trainer Paddy Magee said: “Adam actually rang me a couple of weeks ago and he said he was interested in coming in to ride out.

“Fair play to him, he actually met me on the beach on Sunday morning, when it was teeming with rain. Only he said he was going to be there; I probably would have turned the box around as the rain was that bad.

“He was in my yard on Monday morning, and he was saying about Arch. I said she wasn’t going to get in as she was eight on the ballot. He was in the right place at the right time.

“The plan for a long time now has been to go for the premier handicap in Leopardstown. She won it a couple of years ago.”

Different class

Solness proved different class to his seven rivals in the SIS Maiden over an extended mile and a half.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge, who was successful in the Grade 1 Paddys Rewards Club Steeplechase at Leopardstown last Christmas, went off as 4/7 favourite to gain his first victory on the flat.

He disputed the lead with Fairylike after half a mile and readily went on three and a half furlongs out.

Joey Sheridan sent him about his business outside the final furlong, and the eight-year-old gelding took the honours by five and a half lengths for Bronsan Racing.

Sheridan said: “We went a right good gallop for the ground and from three (furlongs) out, he was lengthening the whole way to the line.

“He’s obviously a very classy horse over jumps and it is a big pleasure to have won on him and Banbridge. I’m a big National Hunt fan watching them winning at Christmas and that.”

BORORA Aura (4/1) led home a 1-2 for Michael Mulvany in the Gilna’s Of Laytown Optional Claiming Maiden over an extended seven furlongs.

She bounced away smartly from the gates and made all for Terry Casey. Stablemate Storzando threatened inside the final furlong, but was found wanting by a length and a quarter at the line.

Casey, in the trainer’s colours, said: “Most of Mick’s horses like it soft, nearly the heavier the better. They seem to find an extra gear in it. The more rain that came, the happier I was getting.”

The winner was claimed by Gerard O’Leary.

Off the mark

Givehertilxmas made the breakthrough at the end of September in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Handicap for the Jingle Bells Syndicate.

The four-year-old filly, in a first-time visor, raced close to the pace and moved well as she took over inside the final two furlongs.

Jack Kearney soon asked her to go and win her race, and she was resolute in delivering by a length at 9/1. Gerry Keane said: “Colin (Keane) was second here last year, only beaten half a length.

“She was beaten a head in Roscommon and has been unlucky. He (Keane) told me the last day to claim off her and put a pair of visors on her. It helped anyway.”

First win for White Smoke

Michael Grassick’s White Smoke (12/1) grabbed her first success, on her 12th start, in the Johnny Sullivan Memorial Maiden in the colours of Joseph E. Keeling. Although she was nicely clear for Rory Cleary halfway, push came to shove racing to the final furlong as the advantage was whittled down.

Osterode, the 8/11 favourite, went after her inside the final furlong and disputed the lead close home, but was pipped by a nose on the line.

Michael Grassick Snr said: “We said to stay out there (wide) until you come to the elbow, because of better ground, well it is not used anyway. Thank God, we have been a long time waiting for her to win.”

Billy Lee was given a four-day ban over a careless-riding incident aboard Osterode.

SMOKE Them Out (4/1) got the testing ground he craves and made the most of his opportunity in the Gannon City Recovery & Recycling Handicap.

Sadhbh Tormey raced him prominently and rode him to the front a furlong and a half out. The four-year-old gelding was tough, as he hit the line three-quarters of a length up on 15/8 favourite Nouvel Espoir for owners Mrs Pauline McCourt and Stephen Sweeney.

Tom McCourt said: “On that ground, I said, ‘jump out to go hard and if anything wants to take it off you, fine’.

“He’s in on Sunday in the Curragh and, if the ground is soft, we will probably have to take our chance. He has won twice there.”

Powerful effort

Selective Power was backed down to 11/2 joint-favourite for the Boyle Sports Handicap, and he responded with a strong effort.

James Ryan sent him after the leader, The Blue Panther, a furlong from home and the seven-year-old gelding soon picked that rival up.

He asserted to come in by two and three-quarter lengths for Thomas Coyle and the Urban & Rural Boys Syndicate.

Ryan said: “I just thought the last couple of times - talking to Jack Kearney that rode him the time before - I don’t know if Gowran suits him a lot as horses sort of blindside him.

“At least today, they are all in tight and he can sort of aim at something.

“He did it well and he has been threatening to do that, so nice to get it done again.”