Plenty of success for local jockeys and trainers

BUTTEVANT rider Colm O’Donoghue was in blistering form recently and he followed a brace at the Curragh on last Monday week with a treble at Sligo on Wednesday. The precedent was set for O’Donoghue who was booked to ride Chicas Amigas in the six furlong Mongey Communications Race and snatched the victory by just a short head from the Gary Halpin ridden Evasive Power before repeating the winning feat aboard 11/2 St. Brelade’s Bay in the Curragh Training Grounds Handicap over the same trip.

O’Donoghue’s eye was very much in at Sligo on Wednesday where he provided Harrington with a further treble. Dragon Girl looked impressive in victory in the Follow Us On Twitter Claiming race while Rickrack had five-and-a-half-lengths to spare over her rivals in the Diageo Day 21st August At Sligo Races Handicap. It fell to Echo Park to complete the treble in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Connacht Oaks Fillies Handicap.

UPTON trainer JJ Murphy had Marlborough Sounds in prime condition to take the concluding race of the seven race card at Sligo on Wednesday. The 11/1 shot kept on best of all inside the final furlong of the 1m4f contest to edge out Rocky Blue in a very tight finish.

DONERAILE trainer JJ Walsh also got in on the act last Monday week courtesy of Shadows Return which took top honours in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle under seven pound claimer Frank Hayes. The 16/1 winner is owned by Frank’s father Liam and the victory represented the five-year-old’s first success in eight career starts.

MIDLETON rider Paul Townend ensured Willie Mullins’ pulsating start to the season continued at Roscommon on Tuesday of last week. He took the first race of the evening by riding the Susannah Ricci owned Camelia De Cotte to a comfortable five-and-a-half-length victory. The Irish Stallion Farms Mares EBF Beginners Chase was run over a 2m5f trip and saw the six-year-old repel the challenge of 11 rivals in victory. It was an eleventh career victory for Townend at the Connacht track.

Townend went on to ride a double at Kilbeggan on Saturday where he got the ball rolling in the fourth race on the card by riding 1/2 favourite Aramon to a comfortable eightlength success. He later completed that double courtesy of Lasoscar in the At Kilbeggan Races Handicap Steeplechase. The 7/2 favourite stayed on well having hit the front before the last to register a fourth career success.

NEWMARKET trainer Des Donovan saddled Dandyman Port to victory in the Follow Tipperary on Facebook Handicap at Tipperary on Friday. The mount of seven-pound claimer Shane Crosse was available at odds of 14/1 to claim the seven furlong contest and a strong ride from Crosse in the final furlong was crucial.

UPTON’S Wayne Lordon was also among the winners on Sunday as he rode Tremendous Leap to victory in the Sensational Kids Handicap.