Mystic Theatre brings up the hat-trick at Kilbeggan

Mystic Theatre landed the odds in good style to complete a hat-trick in the Joe Cooney Memorial Mares Novice Hurdle at Kilbeggan.

Having followed up her bumper success with a maiden hurdle triumph over this same course and distance, the Willie Mullins-trained mare was sent off 1-3 to extend her winning run and was quickly out in front under Paul Townend.

It looked as though Just Janice would make a race of it when challenging two out but the favourite went on again and ran out a comfortable three-and-a-half scorer.

Townend said: "She was keen enough with me today. She made a bit of a mistake at the second last but she was back on the bridle straight away and got the job done nicely in the end.

"Today was about keeping it as simple as we could. She made all here the last day and won a point-to-point so we knew she'd stay and she jumped well enough on the whole.

"It was a step up in class from the last day and she had to do a bit more but she did it nicely.

"It was similar ground to the last day and she handled it well enough."

Townend also hit the target in the Summer Party Pack Discount Group Booking Maiden Hurdle courtesy of Wonderoftheworld.

Alan Fleming's representative belied odds of 14-1 as he cruised past long-time leader Coeur Joyeux approaching the final flight and stretched clear with ease to record a five-and-a-half-length verdict over that rival.

Brian Hayes gave Ayelya a fine ride as the pair made all in the opening Like Kilbeggan Races On Facebook Maiden Hurdle.

John Hanlon's five-year-old blazed a trail in the two-mile contest and the 10-1 chance showed a fine attitude to thwart the late challenge of Canny Tom to score with half a length to spare.

The theme of front-running winners continued in the Pig 'N' Whistle Pubs & Restaurants New York Handicap Hurdle as Wee Small Hours sprang a 16-1 surprise.

7lb claimer Danny Hand had clearly taken note of the previous two races and adopted positive tactics on Dermot McLoughlin's eight-year-old, who showed no signs of stopping as they queued up behind turning for home.

Authorative and Trigger challenged on either side but the winner dug deep to hold on by a nose from the latter, who was sent off evens favourite.

Aggressive tactics won the day again in the Kieran Kelly Memorial Beginners Chase as A Rated bounced back from his Galway mishap to score at 7-1.

Liam Kenny's inmate unseated his rider at the first on his chasing debut last week but put in a nice round of jumping this time as he came home four and a quarters lengths to the good from Arkwrisht.