Jody Townend takes Killarney Bumper for Carrigtwohill trainer Terence O'Brien

Carrigtwohill trainer Terence O'Brien sent punters and connections home happy after the concluding “Executive Helicopters” Ladies bumper at Killarney Races on Monday night.

It was very much an all East Cork affair as O'Brien combined with Lisgoold jockey Jody Townend to record a comfortable victory with the well supported That Danny Feeling. 

He went off the 11/8 favourite. As is often the case in bumpers this was very much a tactical affair - run at a pedestrian pace. 

Townend was always close enough if good enough on the talented five year old son of Diamond Boy. 

Ultimately, he stretched right away showing a smart turn of foot approaching the furlong marker. 

Jody had kicked for touch at this juncture and the response was instantaneous as he quickened clear for a four and a half length success. 

Jody has a terrific record around Killarney, she has farmed this particular race in recent years Townend was registering her third consecutive victory in this contest.

Afterwards Terence O'Brien confirmed that this victory wasn't unexpected and that this race was very much the intended target.

"We felt he improved from last year as he had been weak, he has been good since he came back into training."

Carrigtwohill natives Donal Harnedy, Denis Walsh and Christopher Roche are co-owners in the Hazard Syndicate, headed up by Joe Buckley.

The winner had been last seen in a Galway bumper behind two very smart horses, Colcannon who won at the DRF and finished third in the Punchestown Grade One Bumper. 

The runner up in that Galway bumper finished second in the Cheltenham bumper in March. 

That Danny Feeling had been the subject of a big punt at Listowel last September when backed from 50/1 to 7/2 finishing a close third to a 250/1 winner under Glanworth jockey John Shinnick. 

The each-way money was at least garnered in that Listowel Maiden Hurdle. 

You'd imagine a maiden hurdle is well within the winners compass going forward.

Jody's brother Paul struck earlier in the evening on the smart French recruit from the flat Sober who justified prohibitive odds of 4/11 in the Irish Examiner Novice Hurdle. 

He'd won the Group 2 Sumbe Prix Kergorlay at Deauville two years ago when he was rated 111 and he holds an Ascot Gold Cup entry in June. 

The ex Andre Fabre trained six year old, was bought by Harold Kirk for €115,000 last year at the October Arqana Arc Sale.

He didn't hurdle with any great fluency last night and Townend had to work hard to get the front in the closing stages. 

He was going away at the line and probably needs further. Assistant trainer David Casey believes he'll improve significantly and he should be a useful dual purpose horse through the summer.

On the evening that Rachael Blackmore announced her retirement it was appropriate that Henry de Bromhead's Rockonliam under Doneraile jockey Darragh O'Keeffe would land the Kelly Bros Maiden Hurdle. 

Afterwards Darragh paid his own tribute to the iconic Killenaule jockey. 

"I must say a big thanks to her, since I started riding for Henry, she has been a massive influence the whole way through.” 

Three time point to point winner Bartlemy Boy provided eighteen year old Ballynoe jockey Shane Cotter with his first racecourse victory in the Alan Ball Memorial Hunters Chase. 

He edged a real battle by three quarters of a length from 40/1 outsider. 

Dundaniel to win for Fermoy Trainer Trixie Barry.The 4/6 jolly Lifetime Ambition finished third.

The winner was backed at 25/1 in the offices and was also a strong order in the ring from 10/1 into 13/2.