Flanagan is flying!
Twelve winners for Seán in ten days
SEAN FLANAGAN likes to fly during his free time and is training for his commercial licence, but he is really flying on the track as well in recent times.
He picked up a winner a day all week to add to the six he won the previous weekend, and this gave him a remarkable twelve winners from 32 rides in just ten racing days.
Seán is on 35 winners since racing resumed at a 20% strike rate. He is disputing the championship lead with Rachael Blackmore, and they have had some good jousts.
She was back in action at Kilbeggan on Monday after her nasty-looking fall the day before, unlike Jack Kennedy and Davy Russell who were both sidelined.
She scored a double for Henry De Bromhead, beating Flanagan into second in both races. Seán did win on Gordon Elliott’s Soldier at War (4/1) for Gigginstown in a beginners’ chase, beating favourite Enjoy D’Allen by nearly two lengths.
There was a Wexford 1-2 in the bumper, with Jamie Codd romping in by 15 lengths on Elliott’s Dark Spark (9/4), ahead of Barry O’Neill on the Richard Doyle-owned Rathnure Rookie (33/1), trained by Richie Rath in Screen.
Flanagan and Meade struck again for Gigginstown at Punchestown on Tuesday in a hurdle on Sixshooter (11/8). There was a good run for Paul Nolan’s Valentina Lady (10/3) under Seán O’Keeffe, just over two lengths back in an 18-runner field in a maiden hurdle, and J.J. Slevin was second on Stephen Crawford’s Bellaney Gem (10/1) in a handicap hurdle.
At Punchestown on Wednesday, Flanagan and Meade won with Red Gerry (11/4) by five lengths in a two and a half mile handicap. He was second on Tout Est Permis (5/2) on his seasonal debut, behind Elliott’s Storyteller (2/1f).
Barry O’Neill won the Qualified Riders handicap chase for fellow Wexford man, Conor O’Dwyer, on Sunrise Lady (11/1), with Jordan Gainford third of 18 runners on Makeyourcall (25/1).
Flanagan won at Tramore on
Thursday on the Liz Doyle-trained Bois De Clamart (9/4), over five lengths clear of Rachel Blackmore on Florrie Webb (16/1).
Doyle also had a couple of places on a pretty good day, including second on Flash De Touzaine (22/1) under James O’Sullivan and owned by her mother, former prominent politician, Avril, ahead of Paul Nolan’s For Talks Sake (3/1).
It is almost a year since Caddyshack won for the Berry family, Blackwater, at the Wexford October bank holiday meeting, her only win in 22 runs, but she nearly always runs her race and is warming up nicely for Wexford again.
Bred and trained by John A., owned by his wife, Joan, and ridden by their son, J.P., Caddyshack (6/1), a six-year old daughter of Arcadio, was a close second to Colonel Lesley (9/2) in a two-mile handicap hurdle.
Friday was a free day for the jumpers, but Flanagan kept up his winning streak at Ballinrobe on Saturday when scoring an emphatic win on the Barry Connell-owned and trained King Alex (11/4), ahead of J.J. Slevin on Zaccarela (11/1) for Philip Fenton.
There was a small Wexford representation at Cork on Sunday, with Flanagan having only one ride, but he maintained his strike rate with a snug victory for Whatsyourstatus (5/4f) in the three-mile handicap hurdle for Gearóid O’Loughlin (Meath). Fancied Articulum was a non-runner due to the going.
In Britain, Daryl Jacob, gradually getting back into his stride, had a double at Wetherby on Wednesday on Valleres (3/1) for Alan King and Anemoi (9/2) for Harry Whittington.
He doubled up again at Ffos Las on Sunday with Sceau Royal (10/1) for King and If The Cap Fits (85/40) for Harry Fry.
Tom O’Brien won at Kempton on Sunday on Silver Streak (9/2) for Evan Williams.
Sympathy is extended to Rathsilla, Adamstown based trainer, Mosie McCabe, and the extended family on the death of his brother, John, Ballyvergin House, which occurred during the week after a long illness.