O'Keeffe excels as Ballywilliam Boy bounces back to best for Hourigan

Darragh O'Keeffe was seen at his best with an excellent front-running success on the Michael Hourigan-trained Ballywilliam Boy, the first half of a Ballybrit double for the early jockeys' championship leader.

Bringing his seasonal tally to 39 winners, five clear of Jordan Gainford, the 21-year-old rider injected pace into the 2m4½f novice hurdle at a vital stage to get his rivals in trouble.

It allowed the 9-4 chance to rediscover his best form after a below-par Limerick run.

O'Keeffe told Racing TV: "I didn't think there was a lot of pace the race beforehand. He's a nice horse with experience and he seems to act on the [soft] ground."

Michael Hourigan: in the winner's enclosure at Ballybrit on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

O'Keeffe added of the 131-rated hurdler: "He has a turn of foot. It was a really good performance. I think he'll improve when jumping a fence too."

A late surge from the Declan Queally-trained Young Fitzy, sent off at 11-4, sealed the double for O'Keeffe in the 2m handicap hurdle.

Sixshooter impresses

There looked to be a fair deal of quality to the 2m6½f beginners' chase, a race won in recent years by Don Cossack, Presenting Percy and Battleoverdoyen, but the Noel Meade-trained Sixshooter won decisively.

Partnered by Sean Flanagan, the 145-rated hurdler won by four and a half lengths on his chasing debut at 3-1.

Plain sailing for Captain

Captain Jimmy ran out the easiest winner of the day in the second of two 2m6½f handicap chases for Pat Kelly, the trainer's first winner under rules since Presenting Percy's 2019 Galmoy Hurdle success.

Results, replays and analysis

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