JAMES McAuley, Denis Hogan and Joey Sheridan completed doubles at Bellewstown on Wednesday, when Nezeeh landed the featured WTW Willis Handicap. Prominent throughout, the 6/1 chance led a furlong out, keeping on well to beat Escaping Thejungle by half a length.

Sheridan said: “With that weight, I couldn’t go taking him back because you are not going to make up ground. The front two were leaning right and I was able to sneak down their inside. He lasted home.

“He’s a good, solid horse and probably gets a bit further, but his style of running is more suited to five (furlongs). I think that’s the fourth time I’m after winning on him this year.”

Relish the trip

The same connections struck earlier when Just Jump won the opening Seamus Murphy Memorial Optional Claiming Maiden.

Weak in the market (3/1 from 2/1), given a question mark over his stamina, the gelding took over in front with two furlongs to race. If anything, he appeared to relish the trip, keeping on strongly to score by a length and a half from Late Night Talking.

Owner James McAuley said: “It was a bad race now, you wouldn’t be getting carried away. We only bought him three or four weeks ago for the race on Friday (last week in Dundalk) and if he couldn’t win that, to do this. He was bought to do a job and he has done that job.

“I had my doubts over whether he would stay but, to be fair, Denis and Joey thought that he would stay and thought that he would go through the ground. Now we’ll tip away up in Dundalk, he’s probably not badly handicapped.”

MICHAEL Mulvany was another trainer to record a double on the afternoon. Ribee was first to strike when easily winning the Johnny Kierans Memorial Handicap.

Sent off 14/1, the gelding led over a furlong out under Wesley Joyce, before powering clear for an impressive six-length win for owners the Lee Regan Partnership.

Mulvany reported: “He was our horse for Galway and he didn’t perform. We couldn’t understand the last two runs, he was disappointing. We put a tongue-tie on him and it seems to have worked the oracle.

“He works like a really, really good horse at home. Hopefully, it will be onwards and upwards. A good job I gave him an entry for Killarney on Monday!”

Prominent

Duke Of Leggagh brought up the brace for Mulvany when landing the Barney Curley Apprentice Series Final Handicap.

Prominent throughout under Terry Casey, the Larry Mulvany-owned grey came through to head Capital Theory early in the straight.

Soon clear, the 9/2 chance galloped on strongly inside the final furlong to score by five lengths.

Michael Mulvany said: “You’d nearly think it was easy! He’s a great honest horse and he loved the ground. Terry gave him a great ride and he had him in the right place all the way.

“He’s very adaptable and a good honest horse. He wants to win, that’s the main thing. Hopefully, the handicapper doesn’t go mad now. Terry deserves it, he’s a hard worker.”

Jockey Patrick McGettigan won the overall Barney Curley Apprentice Series.

MEGAN Telford-Kelly rode her third career winner when guiding the Willie McCreery-owned and trained Mogwli to a narrow success in the Boyle Sports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap.

Moving closer early in the straight, Telford-Kelly produced the 8/1 to head leader Rock Etoile over a furlong out. Strongly pressed by Nibras Rainbow close home, Mogwli held on by a head.

Telford-Kelly said: “He quickened up around the bend and the minute he got joined he went on again for me. He was brilliant now and he loved the ground.

“Mogwli just kept finding in that ground and I always felt I was holding the runner-up. He loves passing horses.”

Far too good

The Kieran Cotter-trained Arklow Lad proved far too good for his rivals in the Johnny Sullivan Memorial Maiden.

Chasing leader Star Allure from stalls, Declan McDonogh came through on the 10/3 chance to take over in front with a furlong left to race. Keeping on strongly inside the final furlong, he beat Glory To Be by three lengths.

Cotter said: “I suppose at the end of the day that is what racing is about (enthusiastic owners - Poor Fools Syndicate), we need more people like that.

“This is the first horse they’ve had, they actually took a lease in him and he is heading to the sales at the end of the month. Hopefully, we can find something in the next week or two before he goes.”

Making all

Shane Foley made virtually all on the Jessica Harrington-trained Lifting Sails to easily win the concluding Natures Best Maiden. Placed on her two previous starts, the daughter of Raven’s Pass was sent off a well-backed 4/5 favourite.

Skipping clear with more than a furlong to race, the John Kirkland and Jim and Geraldine Ryan-owned filly had matters well in control before being eased right down close home to score by four lengths.

Jessica Harrington said: “We didn’t really want to come here, but there are so few mile and a half maidens. We have got a couple of fillies that have been waiting for a little bit of an ease. She did it great, she’s a lovely filly and she will be a lovely filly next year. She is getting stronger.

“Shane said he thought she struggled a little bit in the Curragh on soft ground, but today she didn’t struggle at all. He thinks since the last day she has got stronger, which is great.”