Talented young Limerick jockey celebrates first double with Galway brace

TALENTED young Rathkeale jockey Calum Hogan landed his first double when riding winners for Limerick trainers Eoin McCarthy and Eric McNamara at Galway over the Bank Holiday weekend

Hogan four-year-old Scotcantou, trained in Athea by Eoin McCarthy, to a last-gasp win in the two-mile auction maiden hurdle at Ballybrit on Saturday.

Owned by John Moylan, the 14/1 chance didn’t get the clearest of runs after the second-last hurdle, but he finished with a flourish and led in the final strides to deny Henry de Bromhead’s 3/1 shot Downmexicoway by a head.

It was far easier for the 18-year-old conditional jockey in the three-mile handicap hurdle which he won on the McNamara-trained 9/2 favourite Meehall.

The eight-year-old led at the second-last hurdle and went clear to win by three and three-parts of a length from the Harry Kelly-trained 22/1 chance Walk In Time. The double brought Hogan’s overall tally to seven winners.

Elsewhere, two men enjoying great runs shared a winner at Navan on Wednesday. Trained by Rathkeale trainer Eric McNamara and ridden by Ballingarry jockey Billy Lee, the Hurling Mad Syndicate-owned Say It So ran out the easiest winner of the day as he landed the second division of the 14-furlong handicap by all of four and three-parts of a length from the John and Thomas Kiely-trained Black Soul.

The winning five-year-old, on the mark over hurdles at Killarney earlier in October, was one of three 5/1 co-favourites while the runner-up was returned at odds of 16/1.

Doitforjane Sid followed up on his Killarney win at the beginning of October when landing the three-mile one-furlong handicap hurdle for Kilfinane trainer Donncha Duggan at Sligo on Friday.

Again ridden by John Shinnick, the 17/2 chance led before the final hurdle and went clear in the trainer’s own colours to win by an easy three and a quarter lengths from the John Murphy-trained 7/1 shot Nevereverever.

Billy Lee reached the 94-winner mark for the season when landing the eight-furlong median sires series maiden on the Jack Davison-trained the 7/1 chance Glenderry at Dundalk on Friday evening. Leading at the two-furlong pole, the Glass Half Full Partnership-owned two-year-old battled well to beat Johnny Murtagh’s 5/2 favourite Dakota Blue by a head.

Upcoming Fixtures

Dundalk – Wednesday, October 30 (First race 2.14pm)

Thurles – Thursday, October 31 (First race 1.20pm)

Dundalk – Friday, November 1 (First race 5.30pm)

Down Royal – Friday, November 1 (First race 12.25pm)

Down Royal – Saturday, November 2 (First race 12.25pm)

Cork – Sunday, November 3 (First race 12.40pm)

Curragh – Sunday, November 3 (First race 12.27pm)