THE consistent Dairy Force, six times second in his career, recorded just his second victory in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

The 11/4 favourite, trained by Gordon Elliott for the McConnell and O’Shea Partnership, took over at the second last to beat outsider Kome Dans Un Reve by three-parts of a length.

“He’s had a bit of hard luck on his last few runs and it’s great to get it done today,” said rider James Smith.

“He was giving away a lot of weight when second at Downpatrick last time. He ran a cracker there, and has reproduced that run today.”

Kirova scores for King

Third on handicap debut at Kilbeggan in early September, Bobby Kirova (12/1) went two places better under Daniel King in the novice handicap hurdle over two and a half miles.

The four-year-old, sporting first-time cheek pieces, hit the front before the straight and had four lengths to spare over Codger’s Rock.

“It was a very moderate race, but we got through it,” said Michael Butler, who trains the son of Showcasing for the All Star Syndicate.

“He ran well the last day and was kind of entitled to win today. We’ll get another run into him before the ground changes, he mightn’t like deep ground.”

Persistence

Trained by Tom Mullins, Mount Shenshan (11/2) won for the second time at Powerstown Park, when landing the mares’ handicap hurdle over two and a half miles.

Patiently handled by Sean Cleary-Farrell, the daughter of Shantou led before the last to beat Demanding Gerry by three and three-quarter lengths.

“We persisted and now it has paid off,” said Mullins of his wife Helen’s eight-year-old.

“I stuck a tongue-tie on her, and said it would maybe help her concentrate a bit more. Maybe that worked, I’m not sure. We’ll keep tipping away until she trains off, and then I’ll say goodbye to her!”

Private Policy gets better of duel

THE handicap hurdle over two miles, seven furlongs produced an exciting finish with the Nigel Slevin-trained Private Policy (7/1) and Poetic Focus duelling from early in the straight.

The former, a winner over three miles at Punchestown in May, gained a narrow lead after the last and won on the nod by a nose.

“I missed the start and everything went wrong really,” said rider Paddy Cleary. “I probably made too much use of him. Even the last day he won, I made too much use of him, but he just keeps galloping.

“I want to say a huge thanks to Nigel and the owner Darren Byrne, and everyone who has helped me, because these winners are so important. I’m just so happy.”

Mullins rewarded

The maiden hurdle, for previously unplaced horses, over two and a half miles was won by the well-supported Eternal Reward (85/40 favourite) for Mags and Danny Mullins.

The Mahler gelding had a good tussle with Lincall from two out, and a blunder at the last by that rival handed the initiative to the five-year-old, who scored by a neck in the colours of The Bossman Partnership.

“This fella is improving all the time. Mags liked what she was seeing at home and he’d been working with a few of those that have been winning,” said the winning rider.

“It was nice and whoever put the dollars on, got them! Maybe as the ground gets softer he’ll come back in trip, but it’s on the slow side of good out there and this trip is the minimum you’d go.

“He was going to win a four-year-old point-to-point and got brought down at the last, so you’d be expecting him to do that. Mentally, he’s only starting to get there, to the physical side now.

“Even in Kilbeggan we didn’t jump well, but he learned how to jump badly. In that situation, down to the last, there wasn’t much there, but he was fast away from it and that might be the winning of today.”