Successful week for up and coming Harry Swan

Amateur rider Harry Swan sent punters home on the best of terms with themselves when partnering the Gordon Elliott-trained Kish Bank to a narrow win in the concluding bumper at Punchestown on Tuesday.

A strong odds-on favourite in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, the four-year-old skipped a few lengths clear early inside the final furlong and readily held the finishing flourish of the Eric McNamara-trained Seatoit by three-parts of a length.

Swan and Elliott repeated the trick at Naas on Thursday where Wingmen landed the closing bumper. Another odds-on favourite, owned by Bective Stud, went clear from the furlong pole to win by eight lengths from the Yvonne Latta-trained Typhoon Flyer.

Willie Browne did his bit for favourite backers when saddling Billboa to win the six-furlong maiden at Dundalk on Wednesday. The middle leg of a treble for Seamie Heffernan, the 6/5 chance made virtually all the running to beat Edward Lynam’s Cross Border by a length and a quarter. Heffernan also won the Jennifer Lynch-trained Milliethemollie and Jack Davison’s Mcvay.

Andy Slattery won the second of the six-furlong handicaps at Dundalk on Friday with the Punchestown Friends Syndicate-owned Senado Square. Ridden by Cian Horgan, the 100/30 chance made most of the running to win by two and three-parts of a length from the Seamus O’Donnell-trained favourite Theriverrunsdeep.

Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead enjoyed a rewarding weekend and their first of three winners came at Fairyhouse on Saturday where Chigorin easily landed the near three-mile maiden hurdle. A 7/2 chance, the Peter Davies-owned five-year-old came from a little off the pace and was well on top at the line as he beat Pat Fahy’s Prince Palace by three and a half lengths.

At Thurles the following afternoon, Blackmore and de Bromhead shared a double. They certainly had luck on their side as the JP McManus-owned Birdie Or Bust landed the Listed Billy Harney Memorial Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle. The 7/2 chance was well held by Willie Mullins’ Fun Fun Fun but she had the race handed to her when the front-running favourite sprawled badly on landing over the final hurdle and she went clear to win by three and a quarter lengths.

Easy Fella recorded the same winning margin as he took the near three-mile rated novice hurdle to complete the team’s double. Owned by the Four In One Syndicate, the 4/1 chance led before the second-last hurdle and comfortably held Gavin Cromwell’s Mint Boy.

Just two horses lined out for the two and a half-mile rated novice chase at Navan on Sunday and victory went to the John Ryan-trained Lucid Dreams. Ridden by Liam Quinlan, the odds-on favourite made all the running and pulled clear of rival Joyeux Machin from the second-last fence to win by an easy 22 lengths. The winner is owned in partnership by his trainer, Thomas James and Eoin Banville.

Harry Swan and Gordon Elliott landed their third bumper success of the week as The Enabler easily justified his favourite’s tag in the Listed finale. A 5/4 chance in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud, the four-year-old built on a promising effort at Punchestown to beat the Andy Slattery-trained Fleur In The Park by four lengths.

Upcoming Meetings

Dundalk – Friday, December 22 (First Race 5pm)

Down Royal – Tuesday, December 26 (First Race 11.40am)

Leopardstown – Tuesday, December 26 (First Race 12.00pm)

Limerick – Tuesday, December 26 (First Race 12.25pm)

Leopardstown – Wednesday, December 27 (First Race 12.05pm)

Limerick – Wednesday, December 27 (First Race 12.19pm)

Leopardstown – Thursday, December 28 (First Race 12.05pm)

Limerick – Thursday, December 28 (First Race 12.20pm)

Leopardstown – Friday, December 29 (First Race 12.00pm)

Limerick – Friday, December 29 (First Race 12.20pm)

Punchestown – Sunday, December 31 (First Race 12.45pm)