Alelchi Inois is pushed out on the run-in by Ruby Walsh, with Steps To Freedom way back in second© Photo Healy Racing
< Alelchi Inois got away to a winning start to his fencing career when he dismissed the classy Steps To Freedom in the Find Us On Facebook Beginners Chase at Tramore.
The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old (11-8), twice a winner over hurdles, was settled in second place by Ruby Walsh as Steps To Freedom took them along in the two-mile contest, and he closed up easily before sweeping past going to the second-last obstacle.
The ex-French gelding jumped the last two with plenty of zest as the favourite laboured behind him, and he came away to win easily by 20 lengths to complete a double for the trainer and jockey.
Earlier, Ashjar was never far away from the front-running Enjoy Responsibly in the Launch Of The August Racing Festival 14th To 17th Maiden Hurdle and took over with three to jump before landing a straightforward victory for the Mullins team.< Honey Pound came out of the pack to challenge in the closing stages, but Walsh got a better jump out of Ashjar at the final flight and the 7-4 favourite was quickly into his stride to score by a length and a half.
The Mick Winters-trained Samantha Jones (11-4 favourite), making her fencing debut, skipped round the tight track in front under Davy Russell and had only to be driven out to dispose of Dale Street by two and three-quarter lengths in the Tramore Racecourse Supporters Club Beginners Chase.
Punters were left scratching their heads after the Tramore Racecourse Supporters Club Maiden Hurdle when Mick Cullen's unconsidered 33-1 shot War Of The Pennys got the better of another outsider, Missed Cloud to win by three lengths under amateur Eddie Keating.
Cullen doubled up when Andrew Lynch cleared away going to the second-last on Offside Rule (10-1), whose only previous victory came in a point-to-point, and held on by half a length in the Book Online At tramore-racecourse.com Handicap Chase.
Philip Enright got Eddie Cawley's Never Said That (8-1) up by a neck from favourite Royal Chief in the shadow of the post in a thrilling finish to the www.tramore-racec
