THERE was no joy for local trainers over the two days of Down Royal’s Summer Festival last weekend but at least Co Donegal-born jockey Luke McAteer partnered a winner on the Friday, while Co Tyrone’s Cathal McGuckin owned one on Saturday.

Bringing up separate doubles for his jockey Siobhan Rutledge and trainer John McConnell, Wild Shot completed a hat-trick of wins in McGuckin’s colours when landing the one-mile, five-furlong Value Cabs Handicap as the 11/4 favourite. This was a 10th career success for the good-looking eight-year-old So You Think gelding.

Fantastic

“It was fantastic to win at Down Royal and for the horse to win three races in a row,” said McGuckin who had a large support crew in attendance to help him celebrate this latest success. I really like this horse and it’s great that he can win on the flat and over hurdles. He jumps very sweetly and knows where the winning post is.

“John has done a fabulous job with him and has the hang of him now and I leave all the running plans up to him. His staff are fantastic as well. I also have a No Nay Never gelding with John called No Trouble and he was third the last time he ran at Down Royal at the start of the month.”

Referring back to Wild Shot, the owner commented: “He was picked out for me at the sales by Damian English who did a great job training him, as did Noel Kelly. The horse has been placed numerous times (13) as well as winning.”

Double

McAteer’s win on Friday came in the concluding seven-furlong handicap on Alice Milligan who was completing a double for her in-form trainer, James McAuley.

Rathmullen-born McAteer recorded a double of his own on Wednesday at Naas where he partnered the Willie Martin-owned, trained and bred Jazzy Dancer to victory in the five-furlong handicap before landing the mile apprentice handicap on Level Pitch, who is trained by his boss Jim Bolger who also bred the three-year-old Dawn Approach gelding.

Another Co Donegal jockey enjoying success at home in the period under review is Dylan Browne McMonagle who brought his seasonal total up to 18 on Monday at Ballinrobe where he won the one-mile, five-furlong fillies’ handicap on the Born To Sea five-year-old Merroir who is trained by his boss, Joseph O’Brien.

Pony racers head to Moira

HOPEFULLY, by closing time yesterday, fixture secretary Sheena Kerr McNally was inundated with entries for the champions weekend of horse and pony racing at Moira next Saturday and Sunday, July 2nd and 3rd. The meeting, which is being sponsored by Basil Sheils Bar and Restaurant Armagh, has advertised eight races on Saturday and nine on Sunday, that extra contest on day two being a local race for non-thoroughbreds.

Divides are possible but not in the two Derby races which are offering €3,500 in prize money apiece. On Saturday, the 14.2hh Derby is over a mile and on Sunday, the open horse Derby is over two miles. There is a two-mile maiden on day one with a six-furlong race for 13.2hh ponies. A lot of hard work has gone into promoting the meeting and preparing the track so hopefully the weather will oblige.