MANY congratulations to Downpatrick amateur Toni Quail who recorded her first victory over hurdles last Thursday week at Sligo where she partnered John Adams, trained by her boss Colin Bowe, to a fourth-and-a-quarter-length victory in the extended three-mile, one-furlong maiden hurdle.

Quail had partnered the seven-year-old Presenting gelding six times previously – over hurdles and in point-to-points, finishing second on the bay in a three-mile maiden hurdle at Wexford in early July – and had been declared to ride him again last night at Tramore.

While she is looking forward to the start of the 2021/22 point-to-point season, Quail hopes to mix race-riding with eventing and, on Saturday, was at Punchestown where she partnered Wellan Summertime to finish second in the EI115 on their second start of the season.

Quail has entered that Mermus R mare, who was bred by Jim and Margaret Newsam in Newcastle, in the CCI2*-S at the upcoming Millstreet International Horse Trials with the aim of running her in the CCI3*-S at Ballindenisk late next month.

Racing League

Also last Thursday week, but at Doncaster, Dylan Browne McMonagle initiated a double for Team Ireland in the Racing League when landing the six-furlong handicap on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Night Of Romance, the 7/2 favourite.

The Donegal-born apprentice also visited the winners’ enclosure at Tipperary on Friday and at Cork on Saturday.

Downpatrick’s Paddy Mathers partnered three winners in the period under review – at Redcar, Thirsk and Ayr – while at Downpatrick on Sunday, Fermanagh’s Ryan Treacy landed the Joe Rea Memorial Maiden Hurdle on the Leslie Young-trained Ruler Of Dubai.

On the training front, but again last Thursday week, it was particularly good to see Noel Hynds saddle Court Of Appeal to land division one of the nine-furlong handicap at Leopardstown in the hands of Conor Hoban. The four-year-old Golden Horn gelding was having his sixth career start and his fourth in the Hynds’s own colours.