THE Gavin Cromwell revival continued at Sligo on Wednesday where he teamed up with stable jockey Keith Donoghue to land both maiden hurdles.
Owned by the Galloping Gallivanters with breeder Brian Walsh of Silver Birch fame, Belladaball (10/3) cruised home in the Sligo Plumb Centre Mares Maiden Hurdle over two miles and two furlongs.
The daughter of Elusive Pimpernel, a listed bumper winner at Fairyhouse in April, headed odds-on favourite Cotswold Blue at the last to win by an unextended four and a half lengths.
“She is a nice prospect,” said race planner Troy Cullen. “She was going well when she came down at Cork, and no better man than Keith to get her jumping today and get some confidence back into her.
“He mentioned the Grade 3 mares’ novice at Down Royal in late October, so that’s a possible target.”
Promise realised
Seven Towers (15/8) had shown promise in point-to-points and bumpers and got off the mark on his third start over flights in the Solar Generation Maiden Hurdle over two and a half miles.
Owned in partnership by John Brennan, David Flynn and Danny Kearns, the five-year-old went around the inner throughout and led after two out to beat Hadaki by four and a quarter lengths.
“He had good form, except for the last day at Wexford when he was a bit disappointing,” said Donoghue.
“It was a weak race, but he couldn’t have done it any better. When the gap came, it meant I had to commit earlier than I wanted, but he did it well. He is a good jumper, so hopefully he can keep progressing.”
PHILIP Rothwell was another trainer to watch on from home as two of his charges proved successful. To say that Calm Flight Ahead’s form, ahead of the Aidan Moffitt Memorial Handicap Hurdle, was moderate would be an understatement, but he left that well behind to win by a wide margin.
Bred by Jane Mangan, the Wings Of Eagles gelding is owned by Phidelma Elvin and Donal Keane and was prominent throughout over two miles, two furlongs. The 25/1 chance turned for home with a clear advantage and defeated Fremantle Doctor by 12 lengths.
“The first-time blinkers put a bit of sparkle into him, I suppose,” said winning rider Conor Clarke.
“I was a bit worried when I was left alone four out, he went a bit idle on me, and I just ran the bit through his mouth to keep him up to it. I thought they’d be coming to me after the last, so I was a bit surprised when I had a look behind.”
Winning attitude
A scopey son of Kew Gardens, Conor’salwaysright (15/2) got the better of a good tussle with Run For Fun by three-quarters of a length to complete Rothwell’s brace in the WTW Willis Insurance Brokers Flat Race over two miles and two furlongs.
Wearing the colours of the GVD Syndicate, rider Joey Dunne reported: “He was very green at Roscommon and it took him a long time to get going, but he sprinted for the last two furlongs.
“We said we’d step him up in trip here, and he stuck his head down well and galloped to the line.”
DARRAGH O’Keeffe displayed tremendous horsemanship aboard Midnight Eagle (4/1) to secure an unlikely victory in the Francie ‘Banger’ Burns Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.
When his saddle slipped backwards approaching the last, O’Keeffe kicked his irons out and drove his mount home to foil Harpy Eagle by half a length.
“It was all going smoothly until after two out!” said Andrew McNamara, who trains the six-year-old for his wife, Rhona.
“She’s a very narrow, light filly, and Darragh was doing light as well, so she had a small saddle, but at least that meant the breastplate stuck to her good and tight.
“She’s creeping up the handicap but is very game and, if we can keep the saddle straight on her, she might win another!”
Bargain buy
Following up on a win at Wexford, Strong Contender (4/1 favourite) made the most of her light weight to take the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle over three and a quarter miles.
In receipt of 22lb from runner-up Luck Between Us, Michael Hogan’s grey finished strongly under Conor Smithers to score by three-quarters of a length.
Trainer Norman Lee explained: “We ran her back a little bit quick after Wexford and, after the showers, the ground here turned out to be a bit softer than ideal. She’s only a slight mare, 15.3hh, but toughed it out well.
“She was well bought by Michael (€10,000) because she’s by a good sire in Jukebox Jury and is a half-sister to a Grade 1-placed horse (Minella Rescue).”
Go way back
Philip Byrnes put up his declared 2lb possible overweight on Move It On Over (22/1) in the McDermott Farm Machinery Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles but demonstrated why connections were happy for him to ride when driving the five-year-old to a neck success over Mother Ship. Trained in Quin, Co Clare by John O’Neill, the Portage gelding is owned by Kevin Mangan.
“It’s brilliant to get a winner for Paul (O’Neill, son of the winning trainer), we’ve known each other a long time,” said Byrnes.
“He missed three out and was off the bridle from there, but I cajoled him along and he was game for me.”