NORTHERN-born jockeys have been in good form of late, especially Barry McHugh who missed out on the action at the end of last month following a parade-ring fall at Thirsk. This week he rode four winners including a double at Haydock on Thursday.

Jody McGarvey also notched up a brace of winners this week, his double on the Boots Madden-trained Travertine and the John Nicholson-saddled Swift coming at Listowel on Monday, and he was on the mark the previous day at Kilbeggan on Joseph O’Brien’s Persistent.

Mark O’Hare visited the winner’s enclosure at the Co Kerry track when landing the hunters chase on Freewheelin Dylan for Red McLoughlin and fellow Co Down amateur Steven Clement successfully joined forces with Alan Fleming to land the bumper at Wexford on Wednesday with Suncroft.

PERTH RAID

Trainer Stuart Crawford sent five horses to Perth on Sunday and struck with Jimmy Breekie in the colours of the Alkaadhem gelding’s breeder, Ian MacKenzie.

Also on Sunday, at Fakenham, the three-mile handicap chase was won by the John Cornwall-trained That’s The Deal, the Turtle Island gelding being bred by Peter Magill out of the Arctic Lord mare Sister Swing.

The Victoria Crawford-bred Stormbay Bomber recorded his second success over fences in the two-mile handicap chase at Southwell on Tuesday for the Patrick Holmes yard.

The September Storm gelding is out of the Alzao mare Top Tottie.