“IT’S like buses, you’re waiting for ages and then two come along!” quipped Niall McCullagh after ending a spell of nearly two months without a winner by partnering an 87/1 double aboard Powersville and Noirvento.

Powersville, trained by Tom Mullins for his wife Helen, was also returning to form having dropped from a rating of 82 when successful twice as a juvenile in 2017 to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap off a mark of just 55. The 7/1 chance challenged early in the straight and kept on well inside the final furlong to beat Keepthebestsideout by a length and a quarter.

“She ran very well in the Curragh the last day but just got tired and we felt she’d come on for the run. She got dropped 3lbs as well,” said McCullagh before adding, “It’s not a surprise she won but I’m on a bit of a losing streak so it’s nice to get one.”

He only had to wait half an hour for a return to the winners’ enclosure but this time had to overcome some traffic problems before getting the Altar Ego Syndicate-owned Noirvento (10/1) up in the final stride to pip May Remain and Guiding Star by two heads in a thrilling finish to the Tote Supporting Irish Racing Handicap.

“I got stopped twice but she’s honest and has done well to win. Tracey (Collins, trainer) was keen on her chances and her horses are in good form at the moment,” said McCullagh.

Foley double

Shane Foley, currently third in the flat jockeys’ championship on 26 winners, was another rider in double form when successful on Sbraase and Maunganui.

Maunganui (6/1), owned and bred by Ger Callanan at his Nanallac Stud close to trainer Jarlath Fahey’s yard in Monasterevin, made virtually all in the 10-furlong Tote Free Race Day Tickets Handicap, keeping on strongly in the straight to beat Lady Rosebud by a length and three-quarters.

Sbraase, trained by Gavin Cromwell for Sean Mac an Bhaird, was all the rage for the Tote Supports Sligo Racing Claiming Race and justified the confidence with a facile win.

The eight-year-old, who was available at 9/1 in the morning and further backed on track from 4/1 into 9/4 favourite, quickly put the race to bed inside the final furlong sprinting clear to beat Black Label by six and a half lengths.

The first three home were all claimed, with the winner snapped up for just €4,000 to be trained by Noel Kelly. Black Label moves from Ado McGuinness to Karl Thornton for €6,000, and third-placed Giorni Felice was claimed for €12,000 to be trained by Francis Casey.

Crosse brothers on scoresheet

MASTER Matt, trained by Matthew Smith for his father Kevin, gave connections an immediate return on their investment when getting up close home to collar the front-running Sunset Nova in the Play The Tote Superfecta On Every Race Median Auction Race.

The Slade Power gelding, also well-supported on course from 13/2 into 5/1, was recently bought out of Denis Quinn’s yard and responded gamely under pressure for Shane Crosse to head Sunset Nova close home.

“He was working well at home but I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect. He’s a fine big horse who travels well but you don’t want to be hitting the front too soon on him,” said the Kilmessan trainer.

Crosse’s brother Nathan was also on the scoresheet as Ideal Plan upset the odds-on Third World in the featured Bet With Tote For Convenience Rated Race, which attracted a disappointing turnout of just three.

The grey son of Tough As Nails led approaching the straight, and kept on gamely inside the final furlong to score by half a length.

“I was hoping for rain all day as the ground was on the quick side for him. He’s a fine big genuine horse, and in time he should make a nice hurdler. It’s a great pot and I couldn’t understand why there weren’t more entered but I’m happy,” said Mick Mulvany, who trains the 3/1 winner for his father Larry.

DICK Brabazon was reminiscing on his lengthy family ties with the Rogers after saddling Hayyel to justify 2/1 favouritism in the Tote Goes Twilight At Sligo Maiden.

After Oisin Orr’s mount led over a furlong out to beat Itsalonglongroad by two and a half lengths, the Curragh trainer said: “I’m delighted to get a win for the Rogers family because they are great supporters of my pre-training business and we go back a long way. My dad was apprenticed to Anthony’s great grandfather back in the 1930s. He was in Crotanstown when Jack Rogers trained the five classic winners in 1935.

“She’s done everything right in her four runs, and it’s great to get a win as she’s by Dark Angel out of a Galileo mare.”