Limerick jockeys and trainers celebrate hugely successful spell on the racetrack

BALLINGARRY-BASED trainer Richard O’Brien set Billy Lee up for a double when saddling Spanish Temptress to win the eight-furlong handicap for three-year-olds at Killarney on Monday of last week.

Owned by the Phoenix Rising Syndicate, the 9/2 chance added to her win over the same course and distance when coming through to lead inside the final furlong to beat Joseph O'Brien’s 7/2 shot Skippinandajumpin by a length and a quarter.

Paddy Twomey gave Ballingarry jockey Lee his second winner of the afternoon as the five-year-old Seo Linn ran away with the concluding 11-furlong maiden. The three-time bumper winner opened her account on the Flat when racing clear from the two-furlong pole to beat Henry de Bromhead’s 5/2 shot Factual Fact by eight and a half lengths for owners Ann Phelan and Bridget Beckett.

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Bturee-based trainer Enda Bolger won the two and a quarter-mile handicap chase with the JP McManus-owned Inthenickoftime at Galway on Tuesday. An 85/40 favourite under Simon Torrens, the five-year-old led soon after landing over the final fence and he raced clear in the straight to win by five and a half lengths from Ian Donoghue’s 7/1 chance Vaureal. The winner was bred by Noreen McManus.

Michael Mulvany shared winners with both Southill jockey Terry Casey and Moyross jockey Wesley Joyce as he landed a double at Navan on Wednesday. At odds of 10/1, The Love Machine took the near six-furlong nursery handicap to give Casey his third career success. In the trainer’s own colours, he led at the furlong-pole and raced clear to beat Ken Condon’s 5/1 shot Believe In Glory by three and three-parts of a length.

Mulvany was also the winning owner and trainer as the 18/1 chance Boyne Valley took the second division of the 10-furlong handicap. Joyce brought the three-year-old from off the pace to lead inside the final furlong and beat Andy Slattery’s 13/2 shot Kodi Brown by a length and a half.

Gordon Elliott landed a rare winner on the Flat as the Chris Hayes-ridden 33/1 chance Sugar Goodson took the eight-furlong maiden for two-year-olds. In the colours of Sapphire Racing, the newcomer led over a furlong out under Shanagolden jockey Hayes and held Joseph O'Brien’s 9/4 joint-favourite James J Braddock by half a length.

Hayes shared a winner with Dermot Weld as they landed the second of the 12-furlong handicaps with Truth Be Told when racing returned to Thurles on Thursday.

Owned and bred by Moyglare Stud Farm, the 15/2 chance led inside the final furlong to beat Michael O'Callaghan’s Lady Plimsoll, another at the same price, by a length and a quarter.

Abbeyfeale jockey Paddy Harnett landed a 9/1 winner when partnering the Sean Davis-trained Venetian to take the seven-furlong handicap for owner Sinead O’Scanaill at Dundalk on Friday evening. The five-year-old led early in the race and again over a furlong out to score by two and a half lengths from Andy Oliver’s 9/4 favourite Sierra De Gredos.

Billy Lee rode his third winner of the week when partnering the Willie McCreery-trained seven-year-old Stag Night to a cosy success in the five-furlong handicap at Naas on Saturday. Owned by the trainer’s wife Amanda, the 3/1 favourite was switched off the far rail after a furlong and came from off the pace from over a furlong out to lead inside the final 50 yards. Eased before the line, he scored by half a length from Kieran Cotter’s 15/2 shot Arklow Lad.

Quin Amateur rider Laura Costello recorded her second racecourse victory when partnering the 12/1 chance Carrig Padraig to take the concluding lady riders’ bumper at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Costello rode her first winner for Martin Fitzgerald at Cork in March and she again teamed up with the County Cork-based trainer for this success, racing clear on the six-year-old well before halfway and before easing down inside the final furlong to beat the Maxine O’Sullivan-ridden and John Nallen-trained 8/13 favourite Minella Jury by nine lengths.

The Philip Byrnes-ridden Wizard Of Odds won the three-year-old maiden hurdle in the colours of the Two D Partnership for trainer Bill Durkan at Cork on Sunday. Leading early in the straight, the 6/1 chance came home a two and a half-length winner from Joseph O'Brien’s 9/4 favourite Kibris.

Trainer Davy Fitzgerald saddled the 9/2 chance Jaadil to take the two and a quarter-mile handicap hurdle. Owned by the An Bothareen Dubh Syndicate, the Sam Ewing-ridden 9/2 chance made all the running to beat Eamonn Gallagher’s 11/2 shot Onefortheditch by an easy eight and a half lengths.

Upcoming Fixtures:

Punchestown – Tuesday, October 14 (First race 2.05pm)

Dundalk – Tuesday, October 14 (First race 5pm)

Punchestown – Wednesday, October 15 (First race 1.55pm)

Curragh – Thursday, October 16 (First race 1.15pm)

Thurles – Thursday, October 16 (First race 2.12pm)

Dundalk – Friday, October 17 (First race 5.15pm)

Limerick – Saturday, October 18 (First race 1.45pm)

Leopardstown – Saturday, October 18 (First race 2.10pm)

Leopardstown – Sunday, October 19 (First race 1.55pm)

Limerick – Sunday, October 19 (First race 2.07pm)