LUKE Murphy and Colin Motherway are a force be reckoned of late as the rider/handler combination teamed up for their fifth success of the season in the winners of one, with Shanacoole (2/1) taking victory for the second time this season.

Sporting the colours of Linda Motherway, the son of Oscar was following up on his maiden success at Dungarvan here, coming home in splendid isolation as all four of his main rivals came to grief inside the final mile, including Whatsdastory who departing when holding every chance at the final fence.

“That’s great for this horse to win two in a row. We bred him at home ourselves. There are loads of family and friends here today and its upward and upwards with him now. We will go for a winners of two next and maybe a hunter chase down the line,” commented the Cork handler.

A Ton Nom (3/1-4/1) provided Luke Murphy with a double on the day when taking the concluding older geldings’ maiden. The successful nine-year-old was having his second start for owners Dervla and Peter Cogan having previously been off the track since 2014. Never too far away from the pace, the French-bred battled on gamely in the closing stages to get the better off Verticle Pebble, who filled the runner-up spot for the third consecutive occasion when beaten five lengths here.

Former jockey and jockeys agent Alan Donoghue was understandably delighted, and said: “That’s absolutely fantastic, I think he must be the best nine-year-old maiden in the country! I am back giving training a go this year and we have a few nice four-year-olds in. This lad could go for a winners of one now.”

MULTIPLE CHAMPION

Liz Lalor made a winning comeback to the saddle when Cloudy Morning (1/1) took the ladies open in game fashion providing handler Declan Queally with his 17th winner of the season. Sporting the colours of Michael O’Donovan, the now eight-time winner never gave connections too much cause for concern, staying on stoutly in the closing stages to see off the favourite B L Swagger by two lengths.

Among the celebrations in the winner’s enclosure, the Waterford handler commented: “That’s quite amazing, Liz is a multiple ladies champion over the years and to ride her 100th winner so soon after giving birth to her daughter is brilliant. She was so good on the horse, it’s just unbelievable. We will keep this lad to similar opens now.”

STAMINA

The six-year-old geldings’ maiden saw Generator City (7/4 favourite) gain a deserved success in the hands of Aaron Murphy, having only been beaten a head on his previous start at Belharbour. Sporting the colours of John Byrne, the son of Primary ensured that the contest was a good test of stamina, making much of the running before staying on well to secure a three-length victory over Exit Eleven.

“We are delighted with that, we were confident today as he is improving every week. The owners have been very patient, so I am delighted he got the job done today,” stated the successful handler Ciaran Murphy.

Shark Hanlon and Tom Hamilton are also enjoying a good association this season and the duo teamed up to take the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with the T.J. McDonald and Rachel O’Neill-owned Young Buck (9/4 favourite). The son of Yeats posted an impressive front-running performance and survived a slight mistake at the last to record a comprehensive five-length success over Jack Hackett who showed plenty of promise back in second.

This was a sixth success of the season for the Carlow handler who said: “I think this is a really good horse. He could be one of the best I’ve had and I would love to keep him the yard.”

There were raucous celebrations in the winner’s enclosure following the success of Loughrask Breeze (4/1) in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden as the winner is trained locally in Clare. This daughter of Papal Bull was getting off the mark at the second time of asking, having shown plenty of promising when finishing a fine fifth on her debut at Belharbour a fortnight previously.

Eoin Mahon gave the Thomas Vaughan-owned and bred mare a fine waiting ride before making steady progress on the final circuit. This likable sort found plenty for pressure in the closing stages to beat the previously placed Forthegreatergood by over a length.

Up and coming handler Brian McMahon was on hand to say: “I’m very pleased for the owner and I am also delighted for Eoin, he is a great rider and a great worker. It’s a team effort and we will go for a winners’ race with this mare now if she isn’t sold first.”

HORSE TO FOLLOW

BERKERYS ENIGMA (S. Curling): This son of Flemensfirth made a very promising debut in the six-year-old geldings’ maiden when only beaten nine lengths in fifth. The good-looking sort was given a patient ride by Pa King before staying on well in the closing stages, doing his best work at the finish. An older maiden should soon come his way.

Hospitably tent very welcome

THE North Tipperary hunt committee can be commended for providing a hospitality tent on the day which proved very popular with racegoers. With a fine array of hot drinks, sandwiches, soup, buns and biscuits on offer, the tent did steady business all day.

Patrons were equally thankful of having somewhere to shelter during a couple of heavy showers on the afternoon, proving the tent to be a great success on all fronts.

O’Sullivan back and just beaten

MAXINE O’Sullivan came close to a dream comeback when beaten just two lengths in the ladies open aboard B L Swagger, on what was her first ride since breaking her leg during the summer.

The Cork native missed the entire autumn season and now sets off in pursuit of a significant milestone. O’Sullivan is only six winners shy of riding a half century of winners, with a tally of 44 to date between the flags.

Liz Lalor reaches career milestone

LIZ Lalor made a winning return to the saddle on Cloudy Morning in the ladies open. The seven-time lady champion rider also reached a significant career milestone here, as she partnered her 100th winner between the flags.

The 36-year-old rode her first point-to-point winner back in 2003 and enjoyed her best tally last season when riding 13 winners from just 36 rides.

With the ladies’ title still up for grabs it would be no surprise to see Lalor add another title to her tally.