Ballingarry-trained winner on student race day at Limerick Racecourse

THERE was a locally-owned, trained and ridden winner on student day at Limerick on Thursday last as Charles Byrnes’ Aodhan May landed the two-mile five-furlong handicap hurdle.

Ridden by the Ballingarry-based trainer’s son Philip, in his wife Cora’s colours, the 15/2 chance came with her challenge before the second-last hurdle and she wore down Shane Nolan’s front-runner Cosmo Renfro close to the finish to win by half a length, her fourth win from her last five starts and her fifth win in all.

Ballingarry jockey Billy Lee and his great ally Paddy Twomey combined to win the six-furlong maiden with Heart Of Darkness at Dundalk on Saturday evening. In the colours of the late Lady O’Reilly, the 6/4 chance led over a furlong from the finish and held off the Andy Slattery-trained Ojw Legacy by a neck.

Charles Byrnes was a winner again as Intent Approach justified his short odds in the two-mile six-furlong novice handicap hurdle at Down Royal on Sunday.

The JP McManus-owned even-money favourite arrived with his challenge under Mark Walsh between the last two hurdles and he picked up well on the run to the line to win by a length and three-parts from the Stuart Crawford-trained 9/1 chance Annaghbeg.

Other Racing News

A terrific three days for Irish raiders at Aintree was topped by the success of 7/1 joint-favourite I Am Maximus in the Randox Grand National on Saturday. He ran out a most impressive seven and a half-length winner to give Willie Mullins a second victory in the race and Paul Townend a first taste of victory in the showpiece event.

Mullins was previously a winner with Hedgehunter in 2005 and his latest success gave owner JP McManus his third win after Don’t Push It in 2010 and Minella Times in 2021.

Better again, the latest renewal of the race resulted in a 1-2-3-4 for Irish-trained runners with Gordon Elliott’s Delta Work taking the runner-up spot ahead of Henry de Bromhead’s Minella Indo and Galvin, another Elliott runner.

In all there were 10 Irish-trained winners at the meeting. On Thursday, Willie Mullins scored with Il Etait Temps and Impaire Et Passe, both ridden by Paul Townend, while Gordon Elliott won with the Jack Kennedy-ridden Gerri Colombe and Emmet Mullins was successful with Its On The Line and Derek O'Connor.

Friday saw Irish-trained wins for Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthinkin, ridden by Mark Walsh, and two from the Willie Mullins stable, the Walsh-ridden Mystical Power and Dancing City, another for Paul Townend.

Either side of the Grand National success for I Am Maximus, Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy were winners with Brighterdaysahead and Found A Fifty at Aintree on Saturday.

Upcoming Fixtures

Naas – Tuesday, April 16 (First Race 1.30pm)

Clonmel – Thursday, April 18 (First Race 4pm)

Ballinrobe – Friday, April 19 (First Race 5.07pm)

Limerick – Friday, April 19 (First Race 4.45pm)

Curragh – Saturday, April 20 (First Race 1.40pm)

Curragh – Sunday, April 21 (First Race 1.50pm)

Tramore – Sunday, April 21 (First Race 2.05pm)