Flanagan and Doyle in fine form
SEAN FLANAGAN and trainer Liz Doyle had a couple of winners each during the week. They combined to record a Wexford winner at Tramore on Thursday, Sea Scorpion (7/2) justifying favouritism to get home by nearly four lengths in a handicap hurdle, making good use of his bottom weight in testing conditions.
There was a Wexford double at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Jonathan Moore picked up a spare in the first on Gavin Cromwell’s 16/1 shot, Prospectus, and he made it pay as he romped in 12 lengths clear of Gordon Elliott’s money-on favourite, Dakota Moirette.
Paul Nolan has been having a quiet time of it but he returned to the winner’s enclosure when Davy Russell rode Tuzo (10/1) to a comfortable success in the two mile seven furlong handicap hurdle. There was a distinct Wexford flavour to this one as Sean Flanagan was second on Incitatum and Liz Doyle’s 9/2 fav., Emma Beag, was third under Rachael Blackmore.
Sean Flanagan and Jamie Codd were on the mark at Navan on Sunday, while Liz Doyle had a winner in Thurles. In fact, Flanagan was involved in a rare dead heat in a handicap chase on outsider Flemenstorm (12/1) for Meathman Edward Cawley. He shared the spoils with Effernock Lad, ridden by Mark Flanagan.
Jamie Codd made the dash from the point to point at Lingstown to ride Samcro for Gordon Elliott in the bumper and it was worthwhile, though he had to work hard enough on the odds on favourite. This one won a point to point to at the Bree Hunt meeting at Rathnure for Colin Bowe last April and then was blought by Gigginstown at the Aintree sales for a sensational £335,000.
Liz Doyle had her second winner of the week in the bumper at Thurles on Sunday with her well bred filly, One First Cut (10/1), which looked very impressive under Finny Maguire.
In what was a quiet week in England for the Wexford connections, Daryl Jacob picked things up at the featured jumps meeting at foggy Ascot on Saturday when partnering Nicky Henderson’s Top Notch (4/5f) to victory in the £25,000 chase, ahead of Tom O’Brien who did very well to take second on Colin Tizzard’s 20/1 outsider, Sizing Codelco.
On Tuesday: Pat McDonald (Taghmon) rode a nicely judged raced to get up late on Landing Night (6/1) for Rebecca Menzies.
On Wednesday, Ricky Doyle, a regular pilot for Conor O’Dwyer among others, went across to Musselburgh to ride Kentucky Star for Cavan based trainer, Shane Donohoe, and scored a comfortable four-length win.