JODY McGarvey and John ‘Shark’ Hanlon combined for a third winner in as many days at Wexford, with the former going on to complete a 55/1 double.

On the scoresheet at Clonmel on Thursday and Kilbeggan on Friday, McGarvey and Hanlon again teamed-up successfully with Balinaboola Steel (6/1) in the first divide of the Morriscastle Handicap Hurdle over two-and-a-half miles.

A winner at this track just last month, the Seamus Tobin-owned eight-year-old got to the front from two out and stayed on well from there, coming home two-and-a-quarter lengths to the good.

“The horses are flying,” Hanlon remarked. “This horse seems to be improving with me but he has to have a bit of nice ground.

“He seems to love Wexford and we might bring him back again next month.”

McGarvey, who had just two rides on the card, made it four winners in the space of three days as he guided I’m Not Alone to victory in the concluding Duncannon Handicap Chase over three miles and a furlong.

The six-year-old daughter of Yeats came in for strong market support and went from 20s in early shows to a starting price of just 7/1.

Settled towards rear, the J.P. McManus-owned victor made gradual progress from four out and was ridden to challenge at the second last.

She hit the front as they bypassed the final fence, keeping on strongly from there to record a comfortable four-length success.

“That’s brilliant, I’m delighted. She is at a level and that was her level today,” winning trainer Conor O’Dwyer commented.

“Jody was absolutely amazing on her in fairness. He gave her every chance and did everything we wanted.”

O’Dwyer’s Storm Flight was runner-up in the Curracloe Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, with Ricky Langford running out an easy seven-and-a-half-length winner.

Settled in mid-division early on, the Philip Rothwell trained 12/1 chance took closer order with a circuit to race and got to the front on the approach to the straight.

He extended his advantage when pushed along between the final two flights, keeping on well under Hugh Morgan in the colours of the Kings Horses Syndicate.

Rothwell disclosed: “He is a homebred horse and is owned by a bunch of friends I went to secondary school with in the King’s Hospital in Dublin. I’m delighted for them.”

FRESH from a double at Clonmel on Thursday, Liam Quinlan registered another success aboard Tiantu in the Rosslare Opportunity Handicap Chase.

Trained by Paul Power and owned by his mother Bridie, the son of Getaway had been ultimately disappointing since winning at Tramore in May of last year.

Sent off at 10/1, the seven-year-old was a clear second with a circuit to race and improved to lead before the second last.

Market principals Railway Muice and Blaze A Trail attempted to reel him in from the last, but he kept on well for pressure in the closing stages, going on to prevail by a length.

“I’m delighted to get the few winners. With the virus everything was slowed down and I’m only getting back going now. I’m with Mouse Morris now full-time and I’m loving it,” Quinlan revealed.

“This fella is a lovely, honest horse. I rode him last year at Tipperary and the ground was just too soft. Paul had him in smashing form today and he won well.”

THE Joseph O’Brien-trained Isotope put in a smart performance to take the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle in convincing style.

Having unseated two out when still in with every chance on his debut over flights at Gowran, the dual flat winner was expected to deliver in this extended two-mile contest.

Always prominent, the 5/4 favourite had all his rivals off the bridle from early in the straight and he came home four-and-a-half lengths to the good in the colours of the Best Of The Rest Syndicate.

“It was very straightforward. Joey said keep it simple,” winning rider Oakley Brown divulged.

“He kept going the whole way to the line and done it very well. It was an encouraging win and he is improving all the time.”

Flamin Aimee (4/1) is another clearly going in the right direction, after she battled gamely to claim the Courtown Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Odds-on favourite Hand In My Pocket (8/13) tried to get this done from the front end, however the Mikey Fogarty-ridden winner got a dream run through on the inner approaching the second last.

The local pilot had a willing partner in the Colin Bowe-trained bay and she kept finding for him on the run-in to beat the hot-pot by a neck.

“Her point-to-point form overall had been quite disappointing,” said Bowe’s assistant trainer Brendan Walsh.

“Her owners (the Morrisseys) have shown good patience with her and deserve a lot of credit for putting her back in and having another go at it. I’d say she’ll jump a fence sooner rather than later.”

Deserved win

TJ Nagle also has fences in mind for Rebel Waltz after he got a deserved win to his name in the second divison of the Morriscastle Handicap Hurdle.

A luckless second over the course and distance a week ago, the son of Getaway was never far off the pace under Ambrose McCurtin in the colours of the Always On Time Partnership.

The 4/1 chance travelled best to lead approaching two out and a brilliant leap at the last copper-fastened a four-and-a-quarter-length win.

“He ran well here last week when they went no gallop and he got stuck in a pocket.

“Danny (Mullins) felt that everything went wrong for him,” Nagle, who was registering his first success since January of last year, explained.

“We’ll tip away with him now and he’ll go for an average beginners’ somewhere if I can find such a thing.”