THREE conditional riders landed doubles at Sligo’s midweek jumps meeting with 7lb claimer Eoin Staples completing his first brace under rules aboard Ballykinlar (3/1 favourite) in the most valuable event on the card, the Francie ‘Banger’ Burns Handicap Hurdle.
Owned and trained in Co Limerick by Donncha Duggan, the Irish Wells gelding completed a hat-trick with a strong-travelling performance as he came from off the pace to beat Grange Walk by two lengths.
Staples has been aboard Ballykinlar for all three wins this summer and said: “He’s been some horse for me since I started and fair play to Donncha, he’s had him in tip-top condition every time he’s come out.
“I kept him wide because his jumping is so good that I don’t really want to interfere with him. Every day he’s improving and hopefully there is more in him.”
Staples’ earlier winner came aboard Sophia Rose (2/1) in the Hankook Pearse Road Tyres Maiden Hurdle.
In a race where only the two market principals counted from early on, Sophia Rose (2/1) tracked odds-on favourite Cocovic throughout and got the better of a good tussle with that rival after the last to score by a neck with a huge gap of 85 lengths back to the third.
The Sunny Day Syndicate’s winner is trained by Gavin Cromwell whose representative Troy Cullen said: “She’s a nice mare, fairly straightforward, and has a nice pedigree. The dam was quite useful and is a sister to Real Steel. I’d imagine it will be handicaps for her now.”
A PAIR of Westmeath-trained horses went on from their rivals after the second last in the McDermott Farm Machinery Handicap Hurdle and it was the Ciaran Murphy-trained Sydney Cruiser (9/2 favourite) who forged clear late on to beat Adrian Murray’s Mr Dibbs by two lengths.
The Alex Harvey-partnered bottom weight, owned by Mrs Kate McMahon in partnership with Declan and Erica Burke, was making the breakthrough on her 21st start over hurdles.
Murphy said: “She has become very consistent, travelled on that nice ground today and jumped great. She’s entered on Monday at Ballinrobe and Downpatrick and there is a fair chance that she will run again when she’s in this sort of form.”
Tango puts on a show
Harvey rode out his 5lb claim with this victory and followed up when giving Tango Theatre (4/1 favourite) an enterprising ride to win the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
He stole a few ‘cheap’ lengths from his rivals at the start and Rockview Stables’ 10-year-old mare, a point-to-point winner at five but a maiden under Rules prior to this, made all and went clear heading out on the final circuit to score unchallenged by 15 lengths from Themanintheboots.
Winning trainer John McConnell said: “They gave her six lengths at the start and Alex is very good from the front. He got the fractions perfect and all she does is stay.
“He said to me there wasn’t much pace so I said ‘make it so’. I didn’t think he’d make it by that much, but she just gallops relentlessly. I think she has a mark over fences, so I’d say we’re going to have to try and exploit that now. She jumps fences fine.
“We persisted with the hurdles to try and get the win and she deserved this. She’s been consistent and the visor has definitely made a difference.”
RATHKEALE jockey Calum Hogan struck for a quickfire double in the first two races of the evening. Glitz And Glamour (9/2) was one of three in line over the last in the Sligo Plumb Centre Mares Maiden Hurdle and stayed on best to edge out longtime leader Hillhead Runner by a head.
J.P. McManus’ homebred is out of a half-sister to smart chaser Balthazar King and winning trainer Eric McNamara commented: “She’s a Walk In The Park with a good pedigree and the McManus family were anxious to get a bracket with her and I’m delighted to win a maiden hurdle with her.
“She stays that trip (extended two miles and a furlong) really well. She’s not blessed with speed but is very genuine and Calum gave her a lovely ride.”
Tir seals the deal
The 7lb claimer Hogan completed the second double of his career when making all on Tir Og (6/1) who registered her first victory in the Aidan Moffitt Memorial Handicap Hurdle.
The daughter of Tirwanako, trained in Nenagh by Eoin Seymour for the Keepthehighballslow Syndicate, kept pulling out a bit more to hold the staying-on Wild Mandate by two and a half lengths.
Hogan said: “I thought if she improved off the back of her last run in Kilbeggan that she would be bang there and she has.
“I wanted a bit of cover, but I thought the easiest way to get her to settle was to leave her at it. She can be free when she wants to, but she settled well today and jumped well.”
Mastered it
Third at Roscommon earlier in the month, Mr Master Mac (10/3) improved from that promising debut to land the WTW Willis Insurance Brokers Flat Race.
John Gleeson’s mount met some interference when clipping a heel at the end of the back straight and was soon off the bridle. He responded well though and followed Circus Hill through on the inner turning for home before outstaying that rival to gain a half-length verdict.
Mark Fahey, who trains the Blue Bresil four-year-old for the MasterMac Partnership, commented: “He made a good jump forward from his first run to where he is today.
“I was planning on going for the ladies bumper in Bellewstown but there weren’t many entries and so we came here instead. He’s a nice horse and hopefully will have a good future over hurdles too.”