The winning run of trainer Ted Walsh continued at Downpatrick yesterday when Adaramann, previously successful at Wexford in July of last year, won the Sean P Graham Shane Broderick Appeal Fund Handicap Hurdle.
Given an extremely confident ride by 17-year-old Gary Hutchinson, enjoying his first success on his first ride over hurdles, Adaramann was kept wide throughout and only had to be pushed out from the last to beat Rosetown Girl, the 5 to 2 favourite, by three-parts of a length. There is no doubt that the success of Adaramann, at odds of 8 to 1, was well received by the sponsors of the race, who must have been delighted to see Bolton Forest, the 2 to 7 favourite , narrowly beaten in the opening maiden hurdle. Otter Track Lady gamely made all the running there to edge out the gambled-on favourite, who did not help his chances when blundering at the final flight. Liam Fleming lost out on the ride on Tommy Carberry's winner, as he was late to arrive, and Pat Malone gratefully accepted the mount for his first success of the season.
The beaten combination of Jessica Harrington and John Shortt received a measure of compensation when Miss Orchestra survived a bad mistake at the penultimate fence to win the EBF Tattersalls Ireland Mares Novice Chase. The winning trainer has been detained in hospital since the weekend after a stable yard accident in which she broke three fingers.
All six riders in the Sean Graham Shane Broderick Appeal Fund Handicap Chase tried out a new style air-cushioned whip and were unanimous in their dismissal of the idea. Tom Rudd was thankful that he did not have to use his whip on Always in Trouble, who was never challenged as he made all to win by nine lengths.
Rudd said: "I would not be too fond of that type of whip. It is very different from the traditional one and it feels very light."
Jason Maguire, who has suffered more than his fair share of injuries, found something to smile about when he got Inis Cara home by a short head to win the INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle for Michael Hourigan.
Maguire only returned to action last week after a schooling accident at Punchestown in early October and was riding his eight winner of the season.
Meanwhile at Chepstow Tim Forster completed a disastrous 24 hours when Edmond and Donjuan Collonges crashed out of their respective races - the latter fatally.
The Ludlow trainer's tale of woe began at Huntingdon on Monday when stable star Martha's Son was pulled up lame on his seasonal debut in the Peterborough Chase.
Edmond was sent off evens favourite for the Sterling Fluid Systems Novices' Hurdle and was in with every chance at the final flight when hitting the deck, leaving Strong Tel to land the spoils.
Donjuan Collonges was upside Pete the Parson at the second last fence of the Sterling Fluid Systems Handicap Chase when both fell independently. Tony McCoy remounted Pete the Parson to chase home Larry's Lord who was presented the prize, but Donjuan Collonges had to be put down after suffering a broken back.
Paul Nicholls and Martin Pipe both registered doubles. Nicholls made it 13 winners in the past 14 days following victories for Larry's Lord and Lake Kariba, the latter making every yard of the running to dispose of Romancer by 29 lengths in the Tipperary Novices' Chase.
Pipe and McCoy teamed up to score with Strong Tel and Irish Banker, who followed up his Cheltenham success last month when out battling Jet Tabs in division one of the Weatherby's Stars of Tomorrow Open NH Flat Race.
