MICK Mulvany’s horses have been in great form since the very first day of the turf season when On The Go Again landed the Lincoln and he recorded a first ever double when successful here with Premier League and Stormy Tale.

Premier League was one of three seconds for the Oristown trainer at his local Navan track last Saturday but the well-backed 7/4 (from 5/2) chance went one better when making a quick reappearance in the Printfix Ltd Rated Race. Chris Hayes’ mount stretched clear inside the final furlong to beat the odds-on Luzum by a convincing five and a half lengths.

“I was a bit worried about the ground but it was drying all the time and the drainage job here seems to have worked well. Chris said he was a horse that might just suit Galway as he has good early pace and seems to cruise along. I nearly didn’t run him today only there was such a small field,” said Mulvany.

Stormy Tale, who is also owned by Mulvany’s father Larry, overcame some trouble in running early in the straight before finishing strongly towards the stands’ side rail to take the www.countysligoraces.com Handicap. The 4/1 shot led inside the final furlong for Gary Carroll to beat Bracebridge Hall by three-quarters of a length.

A delighted Mulvany said: “That’s my first ever double. They are all running well for us and we’ve had six seconds in the space of 10 days before today. It’s always been a lucky track for us and we had our first two-year-old winner here.

“Coming back in trip was a little bit of a worry and Gary said she nearly got knocked over coming off the home bend but she kept going well. She seems to handle most surfaces.”

WELD DOUBLE

Dermot Weld and Declan McDonogh were also in double form teaming up to take the first and last races on the card with the Aga Khan-owned pair Alanannda and Sheberghan.

Alanannda showed the benefit of her debut at Gowran Park earlier this month when justifying evens favouritism in the Foleys Bar & Off Licence Sligo Maiden. Loving A Boom appeared to have stolen a march when asserting on the home bend but the homebred daughter of Invincible Spirit found plenty under pressure in the straight, leading 100 yards out to score by three-quarters of a length.

McDonogh said: “She was a bit green the last day and did a couple of things wrong in the first furlong but she was brilliant today. She has plenty of heart and I’d say she’ll get another furlong.”

The winning rider was none the worse for a tumble after the line when Sheberghan (3/1) jinked and unseated him having drawn clear in the final furlong to score by four lengths in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

“He was lugging the last furlong when he was on his own and over the years horses do go towards the stable yard a bit,” explained McDonogh before adding, “I was even saying to Lorcan (Wyer, clerk of the course) they could put a running rail around there to guide them. As regards the race it went well and he toughed it out. He woke up from the Navan race.”

Flindt justified good support in the Sligo Races Hospitality Handicap. Trained by Dot Love for Kieran Clarke, the 9/2 (from 8/1) chance led approaching the home turn under Conor Hoban and stayed on well in the final furlong to beat Sunnyhill Lad by a length and three-quarters.

Love’s assistant Ciaran Murphy said: “I’m thrilled with him. He was unlucky in Cork where he got knocked coming out of the stalls and Conor had to bide his time and it didn’t work out. He’s progressive but is a big baby still and a mile and four will suit real well. He’s a lovely jumper who will go juvenile hurdling in August and is very much a dual-purpose horse. We took our time with him and it has paid dividends now.”

INJURY

Chris Hayes and Gary Carroll were fortunate to escape injury following an incident approaching the final bend. Hayes’ mount Roses Queen appeared to clip heels and fell, causing Carroll to be unseated from the hampered Wichita Line.

Bobby Jean (11/1-7/1), trained by Tara Cogan for her mother Monica, also did punters a turn in the Hyundai Santa Fe Handicap. The seven-year-old mare was prominent throughout and kept on well to beat Boom Or Bush by a length and three-quarters, with rider Tom Madden commenting: “The handicapper gave her a chance, and there has been a few things wrong with her but Tara has sorted them out well. She travelled great, picked up nicely and toughed it out well.”

Thiswaycadeaux bene-fitted from a fine ride by Billy Lee to take the Sligo Races Pre-Ladies Day Launch At The Glass House Hotel 31st May Handicap. The 5/1 chance challenged between horses to beat Keep Believing by a neck, and trainer Willie McCreery said: “The visor made a difference and she loves an ease in the ground. She’s a tough hardy mare. She was drawn horribly wide and has been putting on weight all year. Only a few of us are meant to be doing that and it’s not her!

“I’m delighted for Amanda (wife and owner) at home looking after the horses and she will be happy this evening. I have the fillies’ handicap at the Curragh (on Irish Derby day) in mind for her.”

Acting Stewards

D Gavin, P J O’Connor, Dr J. F. Gillespie, W Penrose, L Walsh.

Horse To Follow

LOVING A BOOM (G. Elliott) Only pegged back in the closing stages by the well-backed favourite and may gain compensation soon over six furlongs.