JOCKEY Ben Coen completed a double on the card as the Danny McLoughlin-trained Nancee Spain made all to win the concluding Thank You For Your Support Handicap.

Third at Thurles on Thursday, the Mrs Carol Henley-owned filly showed no ill-effects, as she led from pillar to post. Pushed along before the straight, the well-backed 11/4 chance (from 9/2), soon kicked clear. Stretching away inside the last furlong, the three-year-old galloped on strongly to win by 15 lengths.

McLoughlin reported: “I said to Ben today on that ground to put them to the sword and he did. She is a little bit strange, but she has plenty of ability. She is a slow learner and hopefully there is still plenty of improvement in her. That might be her for the year.”

Brave battle

Coen initiated his brace as the Johnny Murtagh-trained Mocking registered a first career win in the Gary’s Gardening Services Maiden. Sent off 1/1 favourite, the OTI Racing-owned gelding chased leader Bobby Kirova for much of the race.

Leading two furlongs out, Mocking was then headed by McLoughlin a furlong from home, but battled back bravely on the run-in to score by a neck.

Coen said: “He jumped and travelled strongly and handled the ground well. We thought this horse would be winning before now and it’s nice to get his head in front. He handles that ground well.

“He probably could have done with a lead a bit longer but he dug it out well. We thought this horse was nice early on in the year, so hopefully he can keep going.”

RECENT Killarney winner Spanish Temptress made it back-to-back successes when staying on best under Colin Keane to land the Guinness Handicap. Sent off 6/1, the grey was held up in mid-division, before making headway to track the leaders over two furlongs out.

Moving second at the furlong pole, the Phoenix Rising Syndicate-owned filly came through to lead over 50 yards out, staying on to win by a length and a half.

“I’m just delighted. A quick turnaround is always a question and she was up in grade with 7lb extra. Colin said he was really pleased with her and felt he was always getting there,” said trainer Richard O’Brien.

“I think she’s a filly to look forward to for next season. I always thought she’d turn a corner, but I actually thought it would be next year, but it seems to be happening now.”

Working hard

Dylan Browne McMonagle got on the board when partnering the Joseph O’Brien-trained Glenroyal to land the Roscommon Rated Race. Sent off 4/6 favourite, the Ray Grehan-owned gelding arguably had to work harder than expected before ultimately landing a comfortable success. Leading over two furlongs out, Glenroyal was soon headed by Refreshment, but found plenty for pressure, regaining the lead over 150 yards out, drawing away to win by five and a half lengths.

Browne McMonagle said: “He’s an improving horse. He races lazily and probably just does what he needs to do but he’s starting to sharpen up plenty with racing and the penny is dropping with him now. The last furlong he was only getting going.”

Making all

The Andy Oliver-trained Millraceflow made all under Billy Lee to win the opening Roscommon Racecourse (C & G) Maiden. Sent off 5/2, the son of Earthlight broke smartly to lead.

Pushed along over two furlongs out, the David Brazil-owned gelding soon had matters in hand. Asserting from over a furlong out, Millraceflow stayed on strongly to win by three lengths.

“He did it well. He jumped from the gates lovely and travelled great. I got a lovely breather in between the two bends and, when I let him down, he picked up well,” said Lee.

“I was a little worried about the ground being a bit soft, but it’s not too bad. This fella picked up well and he kept going all the way to the line. He has a great attitude, he’s a very honest and genuine horse.”

THE Aengus King-trained La Tulipe Noire followed up her recent win at Cork when staying on best from off a strong pace to claim the Roscommon Racecourse On Facebook Handicap.

Held up towards rear by Jessica O’Gorman, the 6/1 chance had more in front than behind her turning into the straight. However, as a frantic pace began to collapse a furlong out, O’Gorman finished best of all on the King-owned and trained mare to score easily by four and a quarter lengths.

King reported: “Jessica is riding great. I said to her if she could take up the running and slow it down, but she said that there were two horses in it that were runaways. She said she’d sit in. She’s still very young and hasn’t a pile of riding done, but she was very clever there.

“She’s very good, she has a lovely feel for horses. I’m surprised she isn’t getting more spins. We only have five horses and they’ve all won.

“We’ve no serious horses, but we do it for ourselves, which is better again.”

Admirable

Joey Sheridan partnered the Denis Hogan-trained Ephesus to win the On-Course Vets Handicap. Sent off 12/1, the gelding was always prominent, before heading leader Je T’Ai Porte over two furlongs out.

Strongly pressed inside the final furlong, the T & M Partnership-owned four-year-old stuck to his task admirably to win by a length and three quarters.

Sheridan said: “He handles that bad ground. It’s hard to make up ground today and I was able to be nice and handy on him. He’s a grand horse, he’s genuine, and he’s after winning under both codes for us now. It’s nice for Tony and Mike, the owners, they are good supporters. It’s nice to get them a winner before the season is out.”