Burns makes his Mark at Tramore

The James Burns-trained Mark One provided a 12 to 1 shock in the £15,000 Breeders Fund Fillies Handicap at Tramore yesterday when accounting for Berkley Bay by half a length. The race was the featured event of the afternoon at the well-attended meeting.

Earlier, Mark Grant was credited with his 12th success under Rules when Megamar, trained by permit holder Walter Power, he landed the opening Dawn Meats (QR) Handicap Hurdle. In all probability, Megamar will now take his chance in another Handicap Hurdle.

Pat Flynn saddled his fourth winner of the festival when the Danny Grant-ridden Indy Carr got the better of Society Friend by a length in the Dawn Pork & Bacon Handicap. Indy Carr will probably be sent hurdling in time.

The Paul Roche-trained Irishman, sporting the colours of Jersey owner John O'Connor, returned to a rapturous reception following his victory under John Cullen in the Ernst & Young Handicap Chase.

The American-bred Sposa showed all the right qualities when leading over a furlong out to beat the staying-on Ogan Hill in the Phil Hanley Handicap.

Sixteen-year-old Dave Cronin, who only partnered his initial winner when Joanna Morgan's Slaney Boy won here on Tuesday, was again seen to purposefully good effect when the Pat Martin-trained Knockatotaun came a second time to deny Ashcombe in the Bord Gais Maiden.

At Dundalk, the starting procedures were the focus of much debate, with all the riders in the 15-runner Cortial Novice Hurdle, bar Garrett Cotter who partnered the front-running winner Twokay, being severely cautioned for failing to line-up.

Starter Joe Collins' patience was tested to the limit as he took a number of minutes instructing the riders to line up for the opening race. When they eventually got under way, the Michael Halford-trained Twokay built up a sizeable lead . Cotter's mount kept on well in the straight to beat Indiana Journey by 15 lengths.

The starting stalls were a problem in the Blackrock EBF Maiden, with Dancing losing a number of lengths after the stall gate swung back and hit the David Hanley-trained juvenile.

However Kevin Manning's mount overcame the interference, heading Crooked Wood off the home turn to eventually score by two lengths.

Richard Hughes was the man to follow at Salisbury, booting home a sparkling 5232-1 four-timer. Broken Barricades (15-8), Negligee (9-1), Premier Prize (25-1), and Jasmick (6-1) formed his quartet.