PADDY Twomey recorded a double at Ballinrobe on Friday evening. Elano Osario opened her account when landing the extended mile and one SIS Supporting Irish Racing Maiden under Colin Keane. Sent off 8/15 favourite, the Robert Moran-owned filly led over a furlong out, keeping on well to win by half a length.

Keane said: “Billy (Lee) thought that the last day she was just too fresh and gassy with him and did too much with him. I got a lead and it worked out well. We jumped, went along, she relaxed and picked it up.

“She was probably having a little bit of a look going to the line, so there is probably a bit left in her. For a filly that was able to jump and run the last day you wouldn’t have thought it, but it’s not a bad thing as she’s probably saving a bit for herself.”

Doubling up

Debutant Carmers brought up the brace for Twomey when staying on best to win the one-mile, five-furlong West Tyre Maiden. Jockey Donagh O’Connor had to be at his strongest to get the 10/1 chance home in front by a length and a quarter.

O’Connor commented of the Fiona Carmichael-owned colt: “He did it well, to be fair to him. He’s a big raw horse and he’s learning the whole time. It took a while to gather him up.

“I thought at the top of the hill I was going to be caught flat-footed, but when I got a squeeze into him he has picked up and got by the runner-up well and just had a look. He’s gawking and taking it all in, so there is plenty of improvement there. He took plenty of pulling up too, which is always a good sign.”

Expound just holds on

Dylan O’Connor rode his second career winner when landing the featured Burleigh Accountancy Group Handicap on Expound over the extended mile and a furlong. Making virtually all on the Denis Hogan trained 100/30 chance, he held on well to prevail by a nose.

Hogan said afterwards: “It was anxious enough there and I thought we were nabbed to be honest. He actually won in similar circumstances here before, when just hanging on in a maiden. The claim was a massive help and he got to dictate on a tight track.

“In fairness to the young lad, he gave him a lovely ride and got the breathers. He did everything we asked him to the letter really. It’s great for this syndicate (Corner House Syndicate). They are enthusiastic, they are very lucky for me and very loyal to me.”

FANTAZY Man justified 11/8 favouritism when winning the opening Harrington Concrete & Quarries Optional Claiming Race over an extended mile and a furlong. Ben Coen had to earn his fee, before the Johnny Murtagh-trained gelding asserted inside the final furlong to score by two and a half lengths.

Coen said of the McPeake Investments (NI) Ltd-owned winner: “He was very green. I got him balanced in the last furlong and he ran out a good winner, he hit the line strong. On his first two runs, he was kind of like a rabbit in the headlights a bit.

“His last run was okay. We thought he’d run well here today if he handled the track. I think back on a nicer track he’ll be even better again.”

Flying home

Garry Carroll denied Murtagh and Coen an opening race double, when winning the Brian Forkan Construction Maiden on Flying Fortress over the same distance.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding kept on well to deny Wertpol by half a length. Although not without his own supporters, the 9/2 (from 14/1) chance was foiling a huge gamble (28/1-4/1 favourite) on the runner-up.

Carroll said of the Flying Fortress Partnership-owned winner: “He pinged the gates, got a lovely position, and travelled and I know he’ll stay further as well.

“Garvan Donnelly bought him from the sales for the syndicate.

“He’s a horse that’ll probably go a bit further, that ground or slower will suit him.

“He’s a good genuine horse and he tries hard. Around these small tracks, he’s uncomplicated.”

LET Her Cook landed a nice touch when making virtually all under Joey Sheridan to win the MG Plant Sales Handicap.

Sent off 5/1 (from 22/1), the William Harvey-owned and trained filly kept on well to score by a length and three-quarters.

Sheridan said: “They (Harveys) are good friends of mine and fair play to them, it’s great to ride a winner for friends. It was Ben that rang me earlier on and he said ‘this one is fit, she had a good run the last day, but just got crowded and had to be taken out of the race’.

“He said ‘leave her to bowl away there and no nonsense from stall 10’ and it paid off.

“I got a couple of breathers the whole way around there and down to the two. I knew she was going to lengthen to the line and she found plenty.”

“She’s fantastic”

Robert Whearty adopted similar front-running tactics to land the concluding KOG Logistics Handicap on Molly Hall. Sent off 4/1, the Dowling family-owned grey stayed on strongly to win by three and a quarter lengths.

Trainer Alan McIntyre reported: “She’s fantastic. That’s her fourth win for me. There is a two-mile in the Curragh, 50 grand pot, and she might go for that. That’s probably made for her, she’s won over two miles before. She’s really settled and she’s a real little professional.

“She’s won over a mile and three and she’s quick enough, hopefully it’s onwards and upwards with her now. We’ll see what the handicapper does now. She’s probably improving, she’s probably going places. You’d be starting to think of nice pots for her.”