FOUR local trainers saddled winners recently with Noel Kelly doing so at Downpatrick last Friday afternoon and again at Listowel on Wednesday. In both instances, amateur Orán McGill was the successful rider.

First up, Victor McCrea’s High Court Cave justified odds-on favouritism in Downpatrick’s opening Randox Maiden Hurdle over two and a quarter miles. In seven lifetime starts, the five-year-old Court Cave gelding has won a point-to-point maiden, a bumper and now a hurdle race.

Down in Co Kerry on Wednesday, Kelly and McGill combined to land the concluding bumper with Conor McGlone’s Apache Tribe, another five-year-old gelding. This Jukebox Jury chesnut, who was having his second racecourse start, won a point-to-point maiden at Oldcastle in February on his second and final start for Denis Murphy.

There was an earlier Listowel success for northern trainers on Sunday when Pat Collins sent out Sean Mulholland’s Casterly Rock to score on his fourth start in the hands of Eoghan Finegan. The five-year-old Lauro gelding was bred by Mayobridge’s P.J. Murphy out of the Old Vic mare The Vicar’s Lady, an own-sister to Vic Venturi and from the family of Flashthecash and On The Net.

Flat winners

On the flat, the Andy Oliver-owned and trained Sierra De Gredos recorded his third career success when, under Gary Carroll, the four-year-old Almanzor gelding landed the Bar One Better On Football Handicap over a mile at Dundalk last Friday evening.

The following afternoon, Natalia Lupini sent out Ohmali to justify favouritism under Seamus Heffernan in the first division of the BoyleSports Home Of Early Payout Handicap over a mile at Gowran.

The three-year-old Sands of Mali gelding is owned by Co Armagh’s David Sloan who bred the bay out of his winning Azamour mare Shoofly.

Two three-year-old Inns Of Court fillies bred by McCracken Farms recorded their second career wins recently. First up, English Lady, who is out of English Queen (by Makfi), scored at Kempton last Thursday week while Cala Bonita, who is out of Aalia (by Teofilo), did so at Dundalk on Friday.

THE Guinness Kerry National, with its Grade 3 status and its €120,000 first place prize money, was won at Listowel on Wednesday by the Peter FitzGerald-owned Spanish Harlem who scored by four and a half lengths in the hands of Danny Mullins.

This was a second success over fences for the Willie Mullins-trained French-bred gelding, the seven-year-old Spanish Moon chesnut getting off the mark over the bigger obstacles on his previous start back in early June at Punchestown.

That run was preceded by a fourth-place finish (from 19 starters) in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown in April.

Belfast owner Jamie Hunt had his colours carried to victory at Naas last Thursday week by the Noel Meade-trained 5/2 favourite Madbadanddangerous. This was just a second start for the two-year-old Coulsty gelding who had finished runner-up first time up at Tipperary late last month.

On the jockey front, Dungannon-born Barry McHugh and Banbridge native Patsy Cosgrave share the honours on the flat racing scene this week as both visited the winner’s enclosure three times in the period under review.

Cosgrave did so last Thursday week at Yarmouth where he recorded a treble while McHugh partnered a winner at Newcastle on Friday last, one at Hamilton on Monday and a third at Beverley on Tuesday. Also on the flat in Britain, Darragh Keenan landed a double at Wolverhampton on Saturday while Oisin Orr struck at Pontefract last Thursday week and at Ayr on Saturday.

McGettigan scores

On the flat in Ireland, Paddy McGettigan landed the seven-furlong handicap at Dundalk last Friday evening on the Evanna McCutcheon-trained Send Harry while Dylan Browne McMonagle increased his seasonal tally with wins at Listowel on Monday and Tuesday.

Over jumps, Brian Hughes recorded a double at Perth on Wednesday and Caoilin Quinn was on the mark at Fontwell on Monday. On the National Hunt scene at home, Sam Ewing won the second division of the two-mile, three-furlong handicap hurdle at Navan last Saturday on the Peter Fahey-trained Bearami Creek.

This was a first success on his ninth start for the five-year-old Shantou gelding who was bred in Co Down by Michael and Leonard Cave out of the Great Pretender mare Ma Pretention, a winner and Listed-placed over jumps in her native France. Bearami Creek is the third winner she has bred to Shantou following the blacktype performers Ma Shantou and Giacosa. Leonard Cave was among those who attended the ITBA Northern Region awards lunch at Downpatrick on Friday (See page 18).

TWO locally-bred Irish Sport Horses featured high up in the results at last week’s European eventing championships at Blenheim Castle where Ireland won team silver.

Among the Irish quartet, Co Limerick native Robbie Kearns partnered the traditionally-bred Chance Encounter who was bred in Co Down by Robin Johnston. By the Irish Draught stallion Creevagh Grey Rebel, the 16-year-old is out of the unraced Lord Americo mare Camedia who comes from the family of Here’s Johnny.

The gold medal was won by Germany whose Jérôme Robiné finished eighth individually on the Judith McClelland-bred Black Ice who was first produced on the event scene here by Dromara trainer Caroline McCaldin.

The 15-year-old gelding is by the Dutch Warmblood stallion Vechta out of the ISH mare Brookhall Lady (by Touchdown) whose dam Irish Duchess (by Scallywag) ran five times without worrying the judge for Desmond McDonogh, on the last occasion in a maiden hurdle at Down Royal.

BETVICTOR has been unveiled as the new title sponsor of Down Royal’s November Festival of Racing, including the Grade 1 Champion Chase.

Taking place on Friday, October 31st and Saturday, November 1st, the BetVictor Festival of Racing marks the official start of Northern Ireland’s National Hunt season and promises two days of unmissable action on and off the track.

Already a major supporter of Northern Ireland sport through its headline sponsorship of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open Snooker (October 19th to 26th at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall) and its backing of the World Cup of Darts, the company is now extending its commitment by partnering with Down Royal’s flagship Festival.

Emma Meehan, Chief Executive at Down Royal Racecourse said: “BetVictor joining us as headline sponsor for the November Festival and the Grade 1 Champion Chase brings fresh energy and a new dynamic to our most prestigious fixture. Their growing presence across Northern Ireland sport aligns perfectly with our ambition to deliver a top-class event.

Excellence

“The November Festival has always celebrated excellence - from iconic horses on the track to the style and spectacle of Ladies’ Day - and, with BetVictor on board, we look forward to creating an unforgettable experience for racegoers this year.”

Sam Boswell, Head of Sponsorship and Media for BetVictor, added: “We are thrilled to be sponsoring Down Royal’s two-day National Hunt meeting, which for us, and our customers, really marks the start of the jumps season and gives us all the chance to see some big-name horses make their seasonal returns.”

Of course, there is action at Down Royal on Monday when the track stages its Molson Coors Race Day.

WHILE not everyone will be pleased with the early mention of the ‘C’ word, we have been asked to mention that the 19th Saintfield Christmas Charity Ride will take place in the Co Down market town on Saturday, December 6th.

We will have more details nearer the date but you’ve had an early warning to check out the Santa Claus outfit.