JOCKEY Mark Flanagan announced his retirement from the saddle with immediate effect after partnering Effernock Lad to victory in the AJC Group Newcastle 80-95 rated handicap hurdle.

Both horse and jockey were without a win since dead-heating in a Navan handicap chase in December 2016 but things took a turn for the better here as Effernock Lad (9/2) made most of the running to defeat Musical Ava by four and a half lengths.

Flanagan began his career with Keane and then spent spells with Noel Meade and Michael Cunningham before returning to Keane, who trains the 10-year-old for his wife Esther.

Along with Danny Mullins and Jody McGarvey, Hugh Morgan also picked up a chance winner as he replaced the unwell Liam Quinlan aboard the John Ryan-owned and trained Summer Hill (13/8) in the Trackars Homecare Maiden Hurdle.

The six-year-old was reported to have run out at the second last in Kilbeggan maiden the previous evening but he put the record straight here to trounce Balgowlah by 17 lengths with the odds-on Panther Soul (blowing hard post race) only fourth.

Disqualified from winning

This ensured a trying week Ryan, whose Kilcarry View was disqualified from winning a Sligo maiden hurdle three days previously, ended on a high. The winner is now likely to head to Listowel.

Conor Orr gave up his rides on the card which meant that he missed sharing in a double with trainer Noel Kelly who is enjoying his most industrious National Hunt campaign for a number of years and was recording the first brace of his career.

Defeated the favourite

Danny Mullins was the first to benefit from Orr’s absence when he struck on Bracka Lily in the Balloohire.com Mares Handicap Hurdle. Mullins put up 4lbs overweight on the bottom-weight but this didn’t matter to the 7/2 shot who defeated the favourite Walking In Memphis by three lengths.

An 18-race maiden before this contest, the seven-year-old daughter of Mahler is owned by the Cill Iseal Syndicate.

Kelly then joined forces with Jody McGarvey as Canadian Steel (6/4) continued in the form of his life in the Hannontravel.com-sponsored 80-95 rated handicap hurdle.

The 10-year-old hadn’t won on the track until the start of this season but he has now won four of his last six outings (two each over fences and hurdles) and this was perhaps his easiest success to date. Jody McGarvey enjoyed an armchair ride aboard this gelding who prevailed by seven and a half lengths.