TONY Carroll began a weekend that would yield a feature race win at Wolverhampton on the Saturday night, via the former Irish trained Boom The Groom, with a 20/1 brace at Dundalk. On a trying night weather-wise at the Dowdallshill venue, apprentices Keith Quinn and David Fitzpatrick made their respective marks by riding their first winners, while champion jockey Pat Smullen wasn’t to be left out either through a 53/1 double.

Worcestershire-based Carroll and Smullen combined to land the Dundalk Stadium - Light Up Your Night Handicap. Owned by Trevor Hemmings’ Seasons Holidays, Serenity Spa (5/1) got home in this six-furlong sprint, by a head and a short head from Kimbay and Chillie Billie.

“The key was to get her to relax and thankfully they went a good gallop. She’s a very genuine filly,” remarked Smullen.

Carroll, whose roots are in Buttevant, Co Cork, had Joseph O’Brien booked for his two other intended runners, but Pour La Victoire unfortunately had to miss his engagement after getting upset in transit.

TOUGHNESS

The pair overcame that setback when the Mill House Racing Syndicate-owned Innoko (5/2 favourite) showed his toughness, under a determined O’Brien, to short-head House Limit in the first split of the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap.

O’Brien made the point in the aftermath: “When Tony fancies one he’s not usually far wrong. After tonight you’d have to say he should target more races here. Tony said the key was to get him to relax but he’s tough.”

Robbie Downey, rider of House Limit, also went agonisingly close when the Smullen two-timer was completed in the Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Rated Race. Downey’s mount, Wishyouwerehere, was edged out by a head by So Sensible (8/1). Smullen rode the winner for owner/breeder Herb Stanley and trainer Tracey Collins. An improvement in form report was sought by the stewards and on behalf of Collins, her sister Sheena explained that the horse’s last run was his first run back after a break, his first run on the surface and his first time under lights. Also, So Sensible was badly drawn and broke poorly and later suffered some interference in the home straight and was eased.

On this occasion the three-year-old broke well and benefited from being ridden more prominently, and this may have brought about any improvement in form. These reasons were noted by the stewards.

Many thought the Collins yard would capture the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Apprentice Handicap too. Their representative, Beat The Ballot went off the well-supported market-leader but he couldn’t get to grips with enterprisingly-ridden 20/1 shot Stoichkhov.

Keith Quinn had Dundalk specialist Stoichkhov in front inside the opening quarter mile and they soon built a healthy advantage. Beat The Ballot closed Eamon Purcell’s winner down but there was still three-quarters of a length between them at the line.

After scoring on Mickey Cleary’s charge, his third ride, the 19-year-old said: “I’m attached to Willie McCreery’s stable and I’m from Ballinabrackey in Co Meath.”

Damien Melia on King Of Oriel (10th) was judged to have used his whip when his chance of winning or being placed had clearly gone. The 7Ib claimer was suspended for two race days.

In division two of the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap another youngster took centre stage. Leitrim-native David Fitzpatrick is attached to the Jim Bolger yard but he rode his first winner here for owner/trainer Jimmy Barcoe on That’s Ours (20/1). Bought by Barcoe out of a Clonmel claimer in September, the Giant’s Causeway gelding had been without success in 13 previous starts having run for three different yards. The outsider was paying a fair compliment to the skills of Gowran-based Barcoe - his initial victory on the level - and he just lasted it out by a short head from Mount Flora.

Fitzpatrick was cautioned for using his whip with his arm above shoulder height.

Punters found some of the other winners easier to find. Split The Atom was backed into 4/1 favouritism for the Opera At Dundalk Stadium - Sunday 30th November Nursery Handicap and he delivered in the hands of Luke Dempsey.

Owned and bred by Thistle Bloodstock Limited, Split The Atom has long since been described as a tough and genuine sort by his handler Pat Shanahan. The top-weight displayed those qualities in abundance to defeat Sassy But Classy by a length.

One also couldn’t question Tirghra’s attitude after the 5/4 favourite saw off 66/1 hope Lady Cooper by half a length in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Fillies & Mares Maiden. Kevin Manning rode the homebred daughter of Teofilo, off the mark at the 14th attempt, for Jim and Jackie Bolger.

After the win of his Enzani (11/8) in the concluding www.dundalkstadium.com Maiden, John McConnell admitted: “I’m delighted. It was worse than having a Cheltenham runner with the pressure due to the money we paid for him (€78,000 out of the Dermot Weld yard) and the fact that he had beaten her (favourite, Kadayma, second here) before.”

Gary Carroll sported the familiar Derek Kieran’s silks aboard Enzani and in the end he edged it nicely by a length and a quarter from the aforementioned front-runner Kadayma. McConnell also revealed: “We’ve started to school him over hurdles. With his size he can only improve and he could also be a decent horse for the flat next year.”