IT was both a poignant and notable day for trainer Andrew McNamara as he brought up the second double of his career which was completed by Kingslayer who had shaped with promise in three runs for the trainer’s late father, Andrew, in the autumn.

The Henry Lappin-owned Kingslayer didn’t run at all badly on his debut for McNamara over this course and distance last month and that wasn’t lost on punters as he was sent off a well backed 15/2 shot for the first division of the extended 10-furlong handicap. Daniel King’s mount drifted right inside the last furlong and bumped the runner-up and favourite House Of Kings which led to a stewards enquiry. However, the winning margin was three-parts of a length and the placings remained unchanged, although the winning rider was hit with a two-day careless riding suspension.

“It’s brilliant to get a double, I’ve only ever had one other before. He’d been working very well since he came to me and he did there what he’s been doing at home. I’ll have a chat with the owner but he could well be back here again,” commented the trainer.

Successful

McNamara was earlier successful with the Wesley Joyce-ridden Ellabella in the first divide of the apprentice riders’ handicap over a mile.

The Margaret Heffernan-owned daughter of Pride Of Dubai won over this course and distance in October and again showed her liking for Polytrack by making most of the running from a stall-one draw. Over the course of the last furlong the 9/2 shot clung on bravely to hit the line with a neck to spare over The Bog Bank.

Dundalk’s leading trainer Joseph O’Brien made his presence felt when National Gallery (11/10) took the three-year-old six-furlong maiden under Gary Halpin.

A runner-up on his second outing here a month previously, the F & N Partnership-owned son of Caravaggio took charge of this race for Halpin inside the last furlong to defeat Ano Syra – also a runner-up here last time out – by three-parts of a length.

“Gary said he was doing his best work at the end and he said he will stay seven furlongs and could even stay a mile because he’s a very relaxed horse. He’s a big horse and I still think there is a lot of improvement in him,” declared the trainer’s representative Brendan Powell.

JOHNNY Levins and Donagh O’Connor enjoyed a great start to the year with a double and the pair bagged the first Irish flat race of 2022 when Brushwork pounced late in the five-furlong handicap.

No Speed Limit gave this a great go from the front but was worn down by Brushwork over the last furlong and the line arrived just in time for the David Spratt-owned winner as Adams Barbour closed to within a diminishing neck at the line. There was a further nose back to No Speed Limit as Brushwork made it four wins from 10 career starts which have spanned three years. Siobhan Rutledge picked up a six-day whip ban for her efforts on the runner-up.

“He has the speed for this trip and gets six furlongs well so long term something like the Scurry Handicap could be the aim,” stated Levins.

The trainer and jockey completed their brace when Prisoner’s Dilemma followed up his win here last month in the 50-85 rated seven-furlong handicap.

The Epitome Racing-owned six-year-old took up a nice position from a wide draw and came through to head a well grouped field early in the last furlong. Stellar Spirit was finishing off strongly as the line loomed but the Levins inmate got the verdict by a neck.

“He was up a couple of grades from his last win but he’s improved a little. Hopefully we can find another one for him up here through the winter,” said Levins.

DUNDALK’S first fixture of the year ended on a high for the Coakley family as Denis and his son Ross, making a flying visit home having based himself in Britain last season, combined to land the second divide of the 45-65 rated 10-furlong handicap with their stalwart performer Munfallet.

Now a winner of 10 of his 82 starts, the 11-year-old had gone over a year and a half without a win but he was turned out in excellent heart for his first outing since mid-November.

In the colours of the trainer’s wife, Marie, the 14/1 chance led at the furlong pole before getting home by a length from the 40/1 shot Final Fantasy. This success continued a fine week for the winning rider who notched up wins at Wolverhampton on Monday and Lingfield on Tuesday.

“Ross was riding him when he was home on a holiday. He was riding him out every morning with our other horse and he actually revitalised him,” stated the winning trainer.

“We knew he was in great form and the question was whether he would see out the trip.”

Ger O’Leary’s decision to part with €8,000 to secure Ajax Tavern from a claimer here last month was amply rewarded as the Canford Cliffs gelding made his debut for the trainer a winning one in the seven-furlong claimer after which he was picked up for €15,000 by James McAuley.

In quite a busy start to the year on the claiming front the McAuley-trained runner-up Timourid joined Paul Flynn for €15,000 while McAuley also claimed the fifth-placed Sister Rosetta for €10,000.

For his part the Dean Curran-ridden winner produced a nice effort. He was never able to get any cover but sustained his effort well after getting to the front early in the straight. He reached the line a length ahead of Timourid whose jockey Paddy Harnett was given a two-day whip ban.

Promising young rider Robert Whearty made it 10 career winners on Gavin Cromwell’s Harbanaker (4/1) in the 45-65 rated apprentice rider’s handicap over a mile. The Strawberry Seven Syndicate-owned winner could only manage eighth behind Riliya here last month but a strong last furlong charge saw him comprehensively turn around that form with the 11/4 favourite who went down by three-parts of a length.

Following his earlier whip ban Paddy Harnett was given a two-day suspension for moving across before the marker poles while Wesley Joyce received a one-day ban for the same offence.