Ballinrobe three-timer for Mallow jockey

MALLOW jockey Darragh O’Keeffe has made a scintillating start to life in the saddle and he made it a hat-trick of wins in a week at Ballinrobe last week. Gort trained Norman Lee had engaged the services of the seven-pound claimer aboard Doctor P’s Getaway in the Sweeney Oil Handicap Hurdle and O’Keeffe didn’t disappoint – guiding his mount to a one-anda-quarter-length victory in the 2m6f contest at odds of 6/1.

CORK jockey Colm O’Donoghue has enjoyed a great deal of success aboard Jessica Harrington trained horses so far this season and the good run continued at Ballinrobe last week. O’Donoghue took the ride aboard 11/10 shot Holding Pattern and recorded a five-and-a-half-length victory to duly justify favouritism in the Win Big With Tote Maiden.

PAUL Townend is no stranger to success and the Middleton man was responsible for completing a Willie Mullins double at Ballinrobe recently. The victory came courtesy of Pleasure Dome which took top honours in the Investec Rated Novice Hurdle.

The seven runner contest was effectively a two horse race two-furlongs from home as Townend and current Championship leader Rachael Blackmore pulled well clear of the remaining challengers. But try as she might Blackmore was unable to get her mount close enough to truly challenge the eventual winner.

The Mullins raider eventually had two-and-a-quarter-lengths to spare in victory with further 25-lengths back to the third place Freewheelin Dylan.