ON the jockeys’ front, Co Down-born Patsy Cosgrave got off the mark for the season when landing the first division of the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden at Newmarket last Friday on the Godolphin-owned and bred Pure Beauty.

Making her debut and the only four-year-old in the nine-strong field (there were three non-runners), the Saeed bin Suroor-trained daughter of Shamardal was slowly away but led two furlongs out to win comfortably by two lengths.

Cosgrave recorded his second win of the campaign when, on her fourth start, the Rae Guest-trained Capla Berry justified 7/2 favouritism in the seven-furlong handicap at Yarmouth on Wednesday evening.

Earlier in the day, at Pontefract, Co Tyrone native Barry McHugh visited the winner’s enclosure for the first time this season having partnered the 5/2 favourite, Exceptional, to a comfortable victory in the six-furlong handicap. The Dutch Art filly, who was having just her third start in the colours of her breeder, Cheveley Park Stud, is trained by McHugh’s boss, Richard Fahey.

Dead-heat

Following a lengthy spell in Australia, Co Sligo-born Martin Harley returned to riding in Britain in February.

He recorded two close-fought wins at Haydock this week for trainer Alan King, guiding Midnights Legacy to a head success in the 10-furlong handicap on Sunday while Duke Of Condicote just held on to dead-heat in the near 12-furlong handicap the following afternoon.

Randox investing in Covid fight

RACE sponsor Randox Laboratories is to invest £30 million in a new specialised Covid-19 testing hub at its Science Park in Antrim. The laboratory is the first step in a wider diagnostics investment programme from the Dr Peter FitzGerald-headed global healthcare firm.

The company has also announced that it is recruiting new staff across science, engineering and manufacturing in support of its role within the United Kingdom’s national testing programme.

Two hundred new positions will be involved in the testing of potential Covid-19 samples as well as the construction of new diagnostic analysers which will significantly increase Randox’s capacity for Covid-19 testing.