THE NAME McManus is already synonymous with the National Hunt game and another member of the family secured his first winner as an owner at Clonmel yesterday.

JP McManus’s gold and green silks have been carried by the likes of Istabraq, Baracouda and most recently Binocular, but his son, John, had not managed to hit the mark before River Canon’s success in the Demense Maiden Hurdle.

Edward O’Grady’s charge, sporting all-red colours, had finished fourth in a race won by Cousin Vinny at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.

Travelling well throughout on this occasion, he stretched away once given the office by Andrew McNamara to score by three lengths.

“It is a privilege and an honour to train John’s first winner,” O’Grady said. “He wasn’t able to come racing but he did escape to watch it in a pub. The horse won nicely and he’ll jump a fence later on.”

The running and riding of Happy Birthday in the Ballypatrick Handicap Hurdle captured the attention of the stewards, and trainer Oliver McKiernan and rider Niall “Slippers” Madden were punished for their efforts.

In the case of the former, a €2,000 fine was imposed for using the racecourse as a schooling ground. Madden was banned for seven days for insufficient effort.

Happy Birthday was banned from running for 42 days.

The gelding finished eighth of 11 finishers behind Jacks Island with a “towards rear for most, never a factor” comment in running.

At Ayr, Denis O’Regan was in cracking form with a treble highlighted by imposing Cheltenham hope Quwetwo in the Blue Square Poker Novices’ Hurdle.

A giant of a horse, the 1 to 10 hotpot dwarfed his rivals at the start and made all the running.

Scolboa Music Man (7/2 joint favourite) got O’Regan off the mark in a maiden hurdle, and he doubled up when Storm Surge (the 13/8 favourite) landed a novices’ handicap chase.