McCutcheon with a long odds winner at Thurles

Rachael Blackmore played her part as Henry de Bromhead landed back-to-back winners at Punchestown on Wednesday.

She guided Majestic Force to win the two and a half-mile maiden hurdle. She led after the final hurdle and pulled clear to beat Willie Mullins’ odds-on favourite Dr Eggman by four and a half lengths.

De Bromhead and Darragh O'Keeffe combined to take the feature Grade 3 Quevega Mares Hurdle over the same distance with Hispanic Moon. The seven-year-old led before the final hurdle and raced away to beat the Mullins-trained Saylavee by an easy eight lengths with the champion trainer’s second runner, odds-on favourite Gala Marceau, a further ten lengths back in third place.

Nenagh trainer Evanna McCutcheon saddled 40/1 chance Smallcraftwarning to win the ladies’ handicap hurdle at Thurles on Thursday.

Ridden by Down amateur Toni Quail, the seven-year-old raced up with the pace throughout and asserted before the second-last hurdle to beat Philip Fenton’s Lake Chad by two and a half lengths for owner Nick O’Neill.

Rachael Blackmore and Darragh O'Keeffe again gave Henry de Bromhead successive winners when taking the opening two races at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

Blackmore had an easy time of it on the Kenny Alexander-owned Theatre Native which scored a seven-length win in the two-mile auction maiden hurdle. The odds-on favourite led at the second-last hurdle and pulled clear to beat the William McLernon-trained Mi Lucky Cailin, by seven lengths.

San Guido completed the trainer’s double with a runaway win of his own in the four-year-old handicap hurdle over the same distance. He too led at the penultimate flight and scored under O’Keeffe by ten lengths from Gavin Cromwell’s favourite In The Trenches in the colours of owner Ben Halsall.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Clonmel – Thursday, February 29 (First Race 2.22pm)

Dundalk – Friday, March 1 (First Race 4.38pm)

Navan – Saturday, March 2 (First Race 1.40pm)

Leopardstown – Sunday, March 3 (First Race 1.40pm)