Heskin and O'Keeffe on the mark
TIPPERARY - SUNDAY
Sharjah remained unbeaten over fences when landing odds of 8/15f in the Grade 3 two-and-a-halfmile novice chase at Tipperary on Sunday. Trained by Willie Mullins, the Paul Townend ridden veteran led from two out and went on to win easily by 12 lengths.
Wayne Hassett was back in the winners' enclosure once again at his local Tipperary track, teaming up with the in-form Tim Doyle to win the one-mile one-furlong handicap with Simply Sideways. The 13/2 chance, owned by Claire Doyle, went clear inside the last furlong to win by two-and-threequarter-lengths. Ray Barron won the two-mile fillies bumper on 7/1 chance Switch From Diesel. The Paul Mullins owned four-year-old led over two furlongs out, keeping on well to win by three lengths for trainer Seamus Fahey.
KILLARNEY - SUNDAY
Eoin McCarthy and Gary Noonan teamed up to win the two-mileone-furlong handicap hurdle at Killarney on Sunday with Caoimhes Pet. The well backed 7/2jf led before the last, keeping on well to win by a-length-and-three-quarters for owner John Gerard Kelly. Noonan later went on to record the first double of his career when winning the two-mile-seven-furlong handicap chase on 14/1 outsider Avec Espoir for Val O'Brien. Owned by Sean O'Brien, the gelding made virtually all, staying on well to win by a length.
The Enda Bolger trained Solitary Man justified 6/4f when winning the two-mile-seven-furlong novices hurdle on the same card. The Mrs Paul Shanahan owned gelding went clear after the last under Darragh O'Keeffe to record an easy five length win. Eric and Conor McNamara teamed up to win the two-mile-seven-furlong handicap hurdle with 5/2f Londonofficecallin. The In Bounds Syndicate owned grey led after two out, battling on well to win by three-quarters-of-a-length.
KILLARNEY - SATURDAY
Gavin Ryan and Donnacha O'Brien were back in the winners' enclosure at Killarney on Saturday, after 13/2 chance Naval Force won the opening mile maiden. The Atlantic Thoroughbreds owned gelding led inside the final furlong, going clear to win by three-and-aquarter lengths.
Wayne Hassett rode Gambe Veloci to win the one-mile handicap for his boss Joseph O'Brien. The 7/2 chance led over a furlong out before going on to an easy five length success. Paddy Twomey sent out Rubydooby to make a winning stable debut in the one-mile three furlong filles maiden. Ridden by Billy Lee, the 5/2jf, led over a furlong out before quickening clear for a one-and-three-quarter length success for owner Vimal Khosla.
GOWRAN PARK - SATURDAY
Ethan O'Sullivan rode his first winner under rules when partnering the Eoin Griffin trained Great Island to a 12/1 success in the Joe Bollard Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park on Saturday. Owned by Martina Griffin, the gelding went clear after the third last hurdle, keeping on for an easy 16 length win.
Paul Townend won the featured Grade 2 PWC Champion Chase with Easy Game. The Nicholas Peacock owned 3/1 chance made all, coming home a-length-and-a-half in front.
Michael McDonagh won the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase with 10/11f Positive Thinker. The Sean O'Keeffe ridden six year old, also owned by the winning trainer, led on the run-in to score by twoand-a-half lengths.
DUNDALK
Gavin Ryan and Donnacha O'Brien won the featured one-mile two furlong Listed race at Dundalk last Friday with Piz Badile. The 2/1f, who was runner-up in last year's Irish Derby, led two furlongs out, keeping on well to win by a neck from British raider Sea The Casper. The four-year-old carried the colours of Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd.
Trainer Andrew Slattery and his son and namesake introduced a smart debutant in the form of seven furlong fillies maiden winner Milliat. Despite being sent off at 25/1, the Milliat Partnership owned twoyear-old was always prominent, led inside the final furlong and kept on well for a half-a-length success.
GOWRAN PARK - FRIDAY
Henry De Bromhead was in double winning form at Gowran Park on Friday last. His first success came courtesy of Magical Zoe in the featured The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Pat Walsh Memorial Mares Hurdle. The Adrian Heskin ridden 8/11f led after the second last flight, being pushed clear for a comfortable four-and-a-quarter length win. The winner carried the colours of Patrick and Scott Bryceland.
Just over half-an-our after, De Bromhead sent out another oddson favourite to collect when 8/13f Lucky Zebo won the two-and-ahalf-mile handicap hurdle. Ridden by Rachael Blackmore, the Jamie Lawson Maher owned gelding led after the last fence to register a oneand-three-quarter-length success.
Terence O'Brien and John Shinnick joined forces to win the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle with Emancipator. The TerenceOBrien Racing Syndicate owned 7/2 chance was a very easy eight length winner on the day.
While Liam O'Brien sent out 8/1 chance We'llgowats to win the The Golf At Gowran Park Handicap Hurdle. Also owned by O'Brien, the mare led after the last under Conor McNamara, staying on nicely to win by a length.
BELLEWSTOWN - THURSDAY
Wayne Hassett partnered Sun Never Sets to win the opening seven-and-a-half furling nursery at Bellewstown on Thursday for his boss Joseph O'Brien. Despite her saddle slipping, the 2/1 shot kept on well to win by a neck for owners Magnolia Racing Syndicate.
CLONMEL
Declan Queally won the Slievenamon Claiming Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday with 4/1 chance Starman. Owned by the Exors of the late Michael Ronayne, the gelding led before the final flight, stretching clear for an easy eight lengths success.
Fellow Deise man John Queally sent out a double on the card, starting with Costanuci in the two-anda-half-mile mares handicap hurdle. The 16/5f led narrowly under Neil Ryan approaching the last, before staying on to win by one-and-threequarter lengths for owner Kieran McHugh. Jet Setting Jim provided the second leg of Queally's double when landing the bumper under John Gleeson. The 5/1 chance led over a furlong out, holding on well to win by half-a-length for owner Finbarr Walsh.
Henry De Bromhead became the third Waterford trainer to register a win on this card, sending out The Short Go to win the three-mile novice chase. The 10/11f led from the last under Rachael Blackmore, going on to win by two lengths for owner Nolan Byrne.
Meanwhile, Mark McDonagh continued his excellent run of form when teaming up with Patrick Foley to win the three-mile handicap hurdle with Brianna Lily. The Dunne In Trim Syndicate owned 5/1 chance went clear before the final flight, staying on to win by seven-and-ahalf lengths.
Finbarr Walsh from Riverstick had his first winner as an owner when Jet Setting Jim was successful in the concluding bumper.
The John Queally trained 5/1 chance led close home under John Gleeson to record a hard earned half-length success.
SLIGO
Trainer John Ryan won the opening two races at Sligo on Wednesday afternoon last week. Hope Des Blins was the first to strike when making all the running under Danny Mullins to run out a very easy six length winner of the two-mile-one-furlong mares beginners chase. Owned by Thomas Meagher, the six-year-old was winning at odds of 5/1. Just over half-an-hour later, Lucid Dreams justified 6/5f in emphatic fashion, being eased right down by Littleton born Liam Quinlan to win the twomile one furlong beginners chase by 13 lengths. That winner, who carried Ryan's own colours, was owned jointly by John Ryan, Thomas James and Eoin Banville.
Shantou Sisu was a shade fortunate to win the three-mile two furlong handicap chase for Bill Lanigan and Danny Mullins. Owned by Hugh Laing, the 4/1 had been headed by He Fitz In at the last fence, but the latter came down, leaving Lanigan's gelding to coast home by 15 lengths.
Fighter Allen made virtually all under Paul Townend to win the two-mile-five furlong conditions chase. The Willie Mullins trained 5/2jf kept on strongly in the colours of Chris Jones to run out a sixlength winner.
BELLEWSTOWN - WEDNESDAY
Wesley Joyce has been in unstoppable form in recent weeks and the young apprentice regis
tered a double at Bellewstown on Wednesday last week. The first leg came aboard the Willie McCreery trained 8/1 chance Mogwli in the one mile Barney Curley Charity Cup handicap. Carrying the colours of the successful trainer, the gelding was slowly away before coming through inside the final furlong to win by an easy three-and-a-half lengths.
Joyce showed his versatility as a jockey by making all the running on the Joseph Murray trained 11/8f Mickey The Steel to win the five furlong handicap later on the card. The John Lynch and Patrick Sheridan owned five-year-old kept on strongly to win by three-and-threequarter lengths.
CORK
Trainer Micky Fenton had a nice winner at his local Cork track on Tuesday of last week when 4/1jf Run Forrest Run landed the 6f Mallow Handicap under Conor Stone-Walsh. The Munster Racing Partnership (which includes Cork man Billy Coleman) owned gelding stayed on strongly from over a furlong out to win by three-and-threequarter lengths.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Thurles – Thursday, October 5 (first race 2.15pm); Downpatrick – Friday, October 6 (first race 1.50pm); Dundalk – Friday, October 6 (first race 5.30pm); Fairyhouse – Saturday, October 7 (first race 1.55pm); Curragh – Saturday, October 7 (first race 1.10pm).