Rathkeale trainer celebrates stunning treble at Limerick Racecourse

THREE winners for Rathkeale trainer Eric McNamara made the headlines at Limerick's fixture on Tuesday last.

Teaming up with local jockey Calum Hogan, McNamara landed the opening two and a quarter-mile maiden hurdle with the 2/5 favourite West Of Bally. Owned by Michael Joyce, Tom Kelly, Michael McDermott and Pat Doyle, the five-year-old led before the second-last hurdle and was soon clear to beat the Denis Leahy-trained 15/2 chance Castle Croiuil by an easy 15 lengths.

Paddy O’Brien rode McNamara’s other winners, beginning with the Paddy Kennedy and Anne Kennedy-owned Lenjoleur De Palma in the two-mile handicap hurdle. An 11/4 favourite, the four-year-old scored in near identical fashion, coming home eight lengths to the good over Eamonn Gallagher’s 9/2 shot Onefortheditch.

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Another 11/4 favourite, the John Earls-owned seven-year-old Hees Dynamite, completed the trainer’s treble and O’Brien’s double in the three-mile handicap hurdle. He scored by a cosy four and three-parts of a length from Ray Hackett’s 9/2 chance Roc My Haarth.

Trainer Michael McDonagh landed a 28/1 success as the Ryan Treacy-ridden Happy Dreams took the two-mile five-furlong handicap hurdle. In the trainer’s own colours, the eight-year-old raced up with the pace and asserted from before the second-last hurdle to beat Gavin Cromwell’s 3/1 joint-favourite Cosmo Renfro by all of 20 lengths.

Newmarket-On-Fergus amateur rider Emily Costello rode a wider-margin winner as the 5/4 chance Mossy Way trounced his opposition in the concluding bumper. Trained by Pat Doyle for his wife Mary, the five-year-old made all the running and edged clear early in the straight to win by 27 lengths from Pat Breen’s 25/1 shot Lord Lackendarra with Gordon Elliott’s even money favourite Tip Of The Wings a head back in third place.

Limerick trainer Laura Hourigan and recently crowned champion apprentice Wayne Hassett combined to win the eight-furlong handicap with 33/1 chance Notforalongtime at Dundalk on Wednesday.

Successful in the corresponding race in 2022, the eight-year-old brought his career tally to 10 wins, seven of those for the Patrickswell trainer, when gamely holding the challenge of Paul Flynn’s 7/2 favourite Moyassr by a shorthead.

The two-time hurdles winner Eagle Fang made a winning debut over fences in the opening two and three-quarter-mile beginners' chase at Thurles on Thursday. Ridden by Ballingarry jockey Philip Byrnes for owner/trainer Bill Durkan, the 7/1 chance led before the third-last fence and held the Gordon Elliott-trained 5/2 favourite Kaurasso Blue by three-parts of a length.

Ballingarry trainer Charles Byrnes landed a far easier winner as the Anthony Bustin-ridden On Your Way took the John Thomas McNamara Series Amateur Riders Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles at Fairyhouse on Friday. The 14/1 chance led on the run to the final hurdle and went clear to score by eight and a half lengths from Eugene O’Sullivan’s 9/2 shot Themanintheanorak.

West Limerick jockey Calum Hogan gave trainer Philip Rothwell his third success of the week when partnering 7/2 joint-favourite Kotkito Bello to land the two-mile one-furlong novice handicap hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

The Oliver Barden-owned five-year-old made all the running to win by a length and a half from the Eric McNamara-trained 5/1 chance County Final.

Upcoming Fixtures:

Tramore – Tuesday, November 25 (First race 12.05pm)

Dundalk – Wednesday, November 26 (First race 2.18pm)

Thurles – Thursday, November 27 (First race 12.17pm)

Dundalk – Friday, November 28 (First race 5.25pm)

Fairyhouse – Saturday, November 29 (First race 11.36am)

Fairyhouse – Sunday, November 30 (First race 12.05pm)