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Dominant Gavin Cromwell conquers Fairyhouse card

The King Of Prs led home a clean sweep for Gavin Cromwell
The King Of Prs led home a clean sweep for Gavin Cromwell

The King Of Prs led home a clean sweep for Gavin Cromwell in the SBK Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse as the Meath man enjoyed a fantastic four-timer.

Conor Stone-Walsh made the most of his 5lb claim to steer the 11-2 winner clear by two and three-quarter lengths, having come through with a dream run on the inside to hit the front approaching the final fence.

They were followed home by stablemates Path d'Oroux and the fast-finishing Midnight It Is, partnered by Keith Donoghue and Sean Flanagan respectively.

Gordon Elliott’s American Mike kept on well to fare best of the rest in fourth.

The King Of Prs claimed a hat-trick of wins at Listowel, Wexford and Limerick last season before later going on to fall in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham and a return to Prestbury Park could be on the cards.

"It’s brilliant to win it, and brilliant to have the second and third as well," said Cromwell.

"He was a very cheap purchase as a store and he has kept improving. He has plenty of size and scope and there is no reason he won’t keep improving.

"Keith was a little bit annoyed with himself that he came wide on him in Leopardstown at Christmas and he wasn’t beaten far. He came out of it well, he’s tough and hardy.

"Conor is great value for the claim and that was a big help. It’s nearly like a free 5lb.

"You have to feel sorry for Path d’Oroux, he’s threatened to win a big one and has missed again, but he ran really well.

"Unfortunately, he’ll probably go up another couple of pounds for that and it’ll leave it tougher for him, but that’s the nature of it.

"Midnight It Is ran a cracker as well, he was a little bit keen early and Sean took him back out of it and he came home well.

"I suppose they could all end up running in the Grand Annual."

Sixandahalf created a big impression for Cromwell in the SBK Mares Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Having claimed a Punchestown bumper in April, she went on to enjoy a successful stint on the Flat, scoring at Cork and Newmarket before finishing third in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh.

Her jumping debut could hardly have gone any better, with Sixandahalf tracking long-time leader Qualimita before cruising through to take over approaching the second-last.

Two neat jumps put the race to bed and Keith Donoghue did not have to push the 2-1 chance out to score by a dozen lengths.

Sixandahalf was cut across the board for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, and Cromwell said: "She jumped really well and you couldn’t ask for better.

"I’m not sure where we go from here. She’s not very big, but she has an engine, a great attitude and jumps well.

"Hopefully, she’ll end up going to the mares’ novice (at Cheltenham) ultimately."

When asked if she could go back on the Flat during the summer, he added: "Absolutely, she’s a very versatile mare."

The handler's Noble Birth made virtually all of the running in the Irish Stallion Farm Novice Chase and galloped on strongly from the front under Donoghue to beat Banjaxed by just over four lengths at 11-4.

"It was a good performance. He got a little bit of a freebie in front, I suppose, and he jumped great and stayed going well," said Cromwell.

"I suppose we're in the hands of the handicapper now and we’ll make a plan after that. I haven’t looked yet but maybe the novice handicap chase in Navan or something like that."

Declan Lavery conjured up a late charge from 5-2 shot De Temps En Temps to land the SBK (Pro/Am) Flat Race, a contest won previously by the likes of Gerri Colombe, Tornado Flyer and Romeo Coolio.

Cromwell said: "He was good. I thought turning in 'what’s after going wrong here, I thought he was much better than that’ – but once he got going, he flew.

"I thought it was getting very tight at the furlong pole but he was lucky enough to get through. He picked up to get in between them and then pricked his ears when he got there."

The handler added: "It’s been a brilliant day. I’m not sure if I had an across-the-card four-timer before but that’s definitely my first at one meeting. It’s great, at a local track as well."

Elsewhere, Declan Queally’s Bacchanalian justified 4-5 favouritism with the minimum of fuss in the Racing TV Club Day At Fairyhouse Hurdle, making all to score by four and a quarter lengths.

Winning jockey Sean O’Keeffe said: "That was very nice. He popped out nice in front and jumped away well.

"He had a nice jump at the second-last when I wanted him and kind of put the race to bed. He just popped the last and came home well enough."

J J Slevin continued his good start as retained rider for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede when producing Mistergif with a flying finish to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old showed promise over hurdles last term, finishing fifth in the Supreme and then fourth in Grade One company again at Aintree.

He was the 7-2 third-favourite behind stablemates Tullyhill and Asian Master on his chasing debut but came with a wet sail from well off the pace to overhaul that duo late on.

Mistergif won going away by a length and three-quarters ahead of 6-4 market leader Tullyhill, with 13-8 shot Asian Master a further five and a half lengths back in third.

"I'm delighted, I was delighted to be up on him and it was a good performance," said Slevin, who prevailed on O’Toole at Ayr in the same colours earlier this month after succeeding Daryl Jacob and was riding his first winner for Mullins here.

"He jumped well bar the third-last, and that was probably my fault. Other than that, he was very good, he settled well.

"He has a bit of class, he’s a nice horse."

King Alexander was another scorer for Mullins in the SBK Handicap Hurdle, this time with Paul Townend on board.

The seven-year-old was a four-time winner when with Nicky Henderson and was always travelling well on his first start for the Closutton camp, ultimately pulling away for a two-and-a-half-length triumph at 15-8.

Townend said: "He travelled nicely throughout the race and I’d say he enjoyed that ground at that trip. He stayed going well.

"He always travelled well in England, looking at him, and at least he went through with it today. Hopefully he’ll be a nice fun horse."

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