GORDON Elliott is readying his winter team at present and, on Tuesday, bagged Galway’s opening Tote Always SP Or Better Maiden Hurdle over an extended two miles with Direct Approach (3/1), who maintained the excellent run of owner Kieron Gammell.

Ridden by dual champion jockey Jack Kennedy, the son of sprinting stallion No Nay Never raced prominently, led from the second last, and held on well to beat Young Rebel (8/15 favourite) by two and a half lengths.

Afterwards Elliott said: “Kieron is a big supporter of Cullentra, is with us a long time and he has just told me that this is his sixth horse with us, and all have won.

“We might have had luck on our side as we got first-run on the runner-up, but he had the experience and fitness, so we left him stride on.

“He is flat-bred, but a gorgeous looking horse and that’s why we bought him, although he wasn’t easy to train in the early days.”

Curling on Fire

Point-to-pointing returned on Saturday, and last season’s leading handler Sam Curling was on the mark at Galway in the two-mile, six-furlong Guinness (Mares) Handicap Hurdle, with the Keep It Pucked Out Syndicate’s Fire Coral (5/1), under Philip Enright.

Making all, the daughter of top flat stallion Sea The Stars scored by a length and a half from Grace Faraday.

Curling commented: “She is a mighty mare and Philip said she is as tough as old boots. I thought an 8lb penalty might beat her, but I was obviously wrong. I’d say the cheekpieces help her concentrate.

“She’ll jump a fence next summer and I’d say she’ll also win on the flat next year. The seven-member syndicate are local, from Nenagh, but unfortunately are working today.”

Newbury next

The Willie Mullins-trained Road To Home (9/2) gained a somewhat belated debut win over fences in the two-and-a-quarter-mile Boyle Sports Shop At Galway Beginners Chase, scoring for jockey Brian Hayes and owner Pete Davies.

Runner-up in Cheltenham’s Kim Muir Chase in March before finishing third in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, Road To Home reverted down in distance on his reappearance but scored by two and three-quarter lengths from Karl Des Tourelles.

Hayes later stated: “We were hoping he’d progress this year and I think connections are thinking of the Coral Gold Cup in Newbury next. He is a proper big chaser, has improved for a fence and we’re happy with today anyway.”

TOMAHAWK Juke (11/1) was another successful bargain buy for Declan Queally in the concluding two-mile Race In Pink On October 25 Bumper, scoring on debut for owners Gillen/Enright and the Midland Partnership.

Purchased for just €3,000 as a three-year-old last year, Tomahawk Juke led a furlong out and held on well to beat staying-on Way With Words (10/11 favourite) by a length.

Trainer’s son, and successful jockey, Declan Queally junior later reported: “To be honest, I never had called him a bumper horse and kept saying to my father that he was lacking a gear for bumpers.

“He was cheaply bought by the lads and we’re in a nice position now, as he will make a nice hurdler next season. We will keep him to bumpers and I won’t be in any rush with him now.”

McManus on the mark

J.P. McManus was on the mark in the extended two-mile SIS Supporting Irish Racing Handicap Hurdle, with the Enda Bolger-trained Inthenickoftime (evens favourite).

Successful at the same course in September, the grey son of Mastercraftsman was ridden by Peter Smithers and scored by two and a half lengths, from three-year-old filly Hello Garda.

Smithers had secured a ground-saving passage on the inside and, following the race, Bolger stated: “That’s his third win around here and the hill seems to suit him.

“He needed the hill here the last day and the slower ground was a help today. Peter gave the horse a peach of a ride.”

THERE were two handicap chases on the card, and the Yvonne Dunleavy-trained, Peter Curran-owned Ballagh Star (7/2) landed the Mongey Communications Handicap Chase, under in-form rider Dan King.

King, who collected this summer’s Galway Plate over Tuesday’s same two-and-three-quarter-mile course and distance, made much of the running on Ballagh Star, who scored by 10 lengths from Prince Palace.

King later commented: “In fairness, his jumping is very good, he took me through the race well and came up the hill well. His jumping is so good that you can just let him at it. That’s his third win for connections and is a good horse for them. It was nice to get back on him today, so to win was great.”

Spring to success

The Ryans Cleaning-sponsored race over two and a quarter miles went to the Michael McDonagh-owned and trained Springboard (7/1), under jockey Cian Quirke.

The seven-year-old gelding raced with the leaders and, in the end, produced a game effort to edge past My Cullen close home, for a half-length success.

McDonagh’s assistant James Ivors said: “He didn’t jump like he can, but Cian said that maybe he was running back a little too soon after his run in Listowel.

“He is a good moverm but handles any ground and we’ll give him a little break now, with Limerick at Christmas being his main target.”