IT was truly a day to cherish for trainer Eamonn Sheehy who brought up a double at this meeting which came hot on the heels of his son Mikey riding the first winner of his career at Navan.

Sheehy, who has run just six horses this season, brought up his brace with Rudi Catrail in the Dan Byrne Memorial Handicap Chase where the 8/1 chance gave Wicklow-born amateur Shane Fenelon his first racecourse triumph. A 17-race maiden coming into this extended three-mile contest, Rudi Catrail blazed a trail from the outset and came home with 17 lengths to spare over Glacial Shadow. Sheehy’s charge is owned by the Well Horse Syndicate and the eight-year-old provided his rider with his initial point-to-point success at Stradbally in May.

“It’s been a nice day for Michael and myself and it’s nice to get back into the winner’s enclosure. Getting horses is everything and I’ve only a handful of horses but I have a couple of nice young horses coming along,” commented Sheehy.

In the previous race, the Bernard Cullimore Opportunity Handicap Chase over two miles, Sheehy struck with Captain Cobajay where the six-year-old provided jockey Simon Torrens with the second leg of his first double. This was a chance winner for Torrens, who stepped in for the injured Adam Short, and the always prominent 16/1 chance finished with two lengths to spare over the dual course winner Arch Melody. Captain Cobajay is owned by Emma Butler.

The first winner of the afternoon for Simon Torrens came on Shes Flat Tothemat (11/1) in the 80-109 rated Garry Flood Landscaping Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles. A winner over fences at Tipperary on her penultimate start, the daughter of Presenting led before the second last and then fought off Lady Of The Sea to prevail by a length and a half. Michael Winters trains the winner for the Going Stone Mad Racing Syndicate.