Jacob wins on the double at Haydock
DARYL JACOB had a £100,000 big race double at Haydock on Saturday. He was a clear winner of the Middle Distance Chase Series final on Ballybolley (9/2) for Nigel Twiston-Davies, and also won the the Hurdle Series final on Secret Door (3/1f) for Harry Fry, each race valued at £50,000.
In the latter he just pipped fellow Wexfordman, Tom O’Brien, by a neck on Poppy Kay (13/2) for Philip Hobbs.
O’Brien was also edged out in the Mares’ Series Chase final on Still Believing (20/1) for Evan Williams, beaten a neck by Magic Money (8/1), but he did pick up nearly £10,000 each for his two seconds.
Jacob and O’Brien were at Ffos Las on Sunday and Jacob kept up the good work with victory in the first on Prince Maher (9/2) for R.M. Woolacott.
Pat McDonald (Taghmon) scored in the last at Musselburgh on Saturday on a well-backed favourite, Royal Brave (4/1), for Rebecca Bastiman.
Pat Dobbs (Enniscorthy) was back in action in Britain last week after a successful winter campaign in the United Arab Emirates and he got on the board at Bath on Friday on This Is Us for Richard Hannon in a tight finish to a one-mile handicap. The race was notable for the inclusion of three Wexford riders, with Jimmy Fortune (Ferns) second and Jimmy Quinn (New Ross) unplaced.
In Ireland, trainer Ger Murphy from Ballygarrett and owner Pat Doyle from Courtown scored at Cork on Sunday with Boru Boy (7/1) under Brian Hayes in the three-mile handicap hurdle. He had been second to Tellthemnuttin at Wexford recently and followed up on his January win at Cork. He held on gamely to beat Jessica Harrington’s favourite, There You Go (3/1).
Wexford riders were well represented at Fairyhouse on Sunday for the opening day of the Irish Grand National meeting but drew a blank. The Irish Grand National on Monday was too late for inclusion - I’ll catch up with anything of Wexford interest next week.
Earlier, J.J. Slevin kept up his good run with a 12/1 winner at Tramore on Sunday week, holding on by half a length on Ned’s Island for trainer David O’Brien from Piltown.
Seán Flanagan supplied O’Brien with another good priced winner on Monday at Tramore in a handicap hurdle, on board Icelip (12/1), and Jamie Codd had a rare track chase winner on Gordon Elliott’s Presenting Julio.
Wexford filled the minor placings in the handicap hurdle, Jonathan Moore being second on Paul Nolan’s Paleos Du Charmil (10/1), and J.J. Slevin third on Milestone Prince (16/1) for Michael McCullough, Goresbridge.