BANBRIDGE-based trainer Natalia Lupini saddled her fourth and fifth winners at Down Royal last Friday when landing a double as the Grant Thornton meeting signalled the end of evening racing at the track for 2025.

The first of the pair to strike was the Calyx colt Eleven A who, under Ben Coen, landed the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden over seven furlongs for two-year-olds on his second start.

The bay, who was bred locally by Paul Trainor, is the fifth of seven foals out of the High Chaparral mare Wild Surmise, whose Mark Of Esteem half-sister, Mark Of An Angel, is dam of the Group 3 winner Queen Blossom and, through her, grandam of the multiple Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen.

The Lupini double came up in the Grant Thornton Ulster Cesarewitch Handicap over an extended two and a quarter miles where the three-year-old Almanzor filly Alba Chiara, who was ridden by Wayne Hassett, got off the mark on her sixth start.

Craig Bryson, Natalia’s partner, and assistant trainer, features as one of the owners of both horses.

Donegal win

At the same meeting, Donegal owner Eamonn Crawford had his colours carried to victory in the extended 10-furlong apprentice handicap by the Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained Areana who justified 7/2 favouritism in the hands of Jessica O’Gorman

The following afternoon at Navan, Andy Oliver sent out the Railway View Racing Syndicate’s Railwayview Lady to win the concluding 18-runner 10-furlong maiden on her third start. Ridden by Adam Caffrey, the three-year-old Mastercraftsman filly was returned at 125/1.

Previously in the care of Kevin Ross, for whom she was placed three times in point-to-point maidens earlier this year, the Nick Luck-bred five-year-old Teddington Lock (Kingston Hill – Alverstone, by Alflora) won the BetGoodwin Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race at Fontwell last Sunday.

The bay, who was making her racecourse debut, was ridden by Lily Bradstock whose mother Sara trains the winner for The Luck Family,

THERE were three winners with Irish connections at Craon racetrack in western France last weekend.

First up, England-based, Co Sligo-born jockey Darragh Keenan landed Saturday’s listed race for two-year-olds on the George Scott-trained favourite Command The Stars who was winning for the third time in five starts. On Sunday afternoon, the three-mile, six-furlong listed cross-country chase was won for the second year running by the Paddy Griffin-trained Roi Mage after which Co Longford’s Ciara Dennigan won the side-saddle race on Carlingford Leo, a 14-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding owned by Carlingford’s Aoife and Paddy Hughes. Ciara spent some time last winter enjoying summer in Australia where she rode out racehorses.

There were plenty of Irish jockeys riding at the Ipswich meeting near Brisbane on Wednesday including Martin Harley who landed a 1,350m handicap on the Pierro gelding Chamierro who is trained by Chris and Corey Munce.

Back in England, Keenan rode a winner at Lingfield on Monday while there were also two wins on the flat between last Thursday week and Wednesday just gone for Dylan Browne McMonagle and Luke McAteer and one for Oisin Orr at York on Sunday.

Three wins

Patsy Cosgrave outdid this trio with three wins including a double at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Over jumps, Brian Hughes partnered two winners during the same time period while Caoilin Quinn struck once at Fontwell on Sunday.

Laytown

On the beach at Laytown last Thursday, the six-furlong amateur handicap was won by the James McAuley-owned five-year-old Kuroshio gelding Dontspoilasale.

He was bred by Patrick Turley out of the Naaqoos mare Destiny’s Kitten while the seven-furlong handicap was won by the five-year-old Havana Grey gelding Distillate who is owned by Mark Devlin, Nigel O’Hare and Philip Smith.

At Haydock on Friday, the first division of the five-furlong handicap was won by the Leslie Laverty-bred, David Laverty-owned nine-year-old gelding Arnhem (Dandy Man - My Causeway Dream, by Giant’s Causeway).

THE best of luck to England-based Dromore, Co Down native Susie Berry who will represent Ireland at next week’s Agria European eventing championships at Blenheim Palace.

Susie rides Anne Marling and Sue Wilkinson’s 13-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding Clever Trick who carries 75% thoroughbred blood being by Financial Reward out of the Bonnie Prince mare Bonnie Dolly.

Berry’s teammate Robbie Kearns has been selected with the 16-year-old ISH gelding Chance Encounter who is by the Irish Draught stallion Creevagh Grey Rebel. This grey was bred in Co Down by Robert Johnston out of the unraced Lord Americo mare Camedia.

DON’t forget that there’s racing next Friday at Downpatrick where the Northern Region of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association is holding its 2024 breeders’ awards lunch.

If you’re in a social humour you can keep going on Saturday night when a charity close to the heart of those involved with horses, the countryside and rural pursuits, Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, will be the beneficiary of a barbeque being held at Hazeldene Farm, Ballynahinch.