John Murtagh made a successful return after a three-day whip suspension, when partnering his 37th winner of the season aboard Bayadira in front of another good crowd at Ballinrobe, yesterday evening.
The uneasy evens favourite led over a quarter-of-a-mile out in the Corrib Oil Maiden, and was driven out to beat Grassland Star by a length and a half.
"She will probably be upped in trip next time, although there are no plans yet where that will be," said winning trainer John Oxx's assistant Jimmy O'Neill.
Joe Casey has been drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Shane McGovern on the jump jockeys team travelling to Australia on Saturday week, and he celebrated by partnering Slewmore to take the featured Heineken Handicap Chase. McGovern broke a collarbone at Kilbeggan last Friday, and is ruled out of the four-man team which also includes Barry Cash, Philip Carberry and Shane McCann.
The Philip Rothwell-trained gelding jumped well, and was sent to the front before the last to beat Auditty by a length and a half.
"This is the fourth time I have had runners here, and each time I have had a winner," said the Wexford handler.
Charlie Swan was seen at his strongest when getting Wall St Station home by the minimum margin in division two of the J J Burke Peugeot & Izuzu Ballinrobe Handicap Hurdle, while Rolling Maul is Galway bound after taking division one under Ruby Walsh.
