Athea trainer's win among host of Limerick successes on the racecourse

ATHEA trainer Eoin McCarthy and Newcastle West conditional jockey Gary Noonan combined to win the two-mile two-furlong handicap hurdle with Rathnaleen Kal at Cork on Monday last.

Owned by John Moylan, the 10/1 chance added to a win at Clonmel in May when getting up in the final strides to pip the Eugene O'Sullivan-trained King Ferdinand by a head. The winner might well appear at the Listowel festival next month.

Shanagolden jockey Chris Hayes rode three winners for Dermot Weld at the Galway festival and the pair were on the mark at Naas on Bank Holiday Monday as Katola scored a taking win in the eight-furlong fillies’ maiden. The 15/8 chance was well on top as she beat Aidan O'Brien’s Water Nymph by a length and a half, a fine performance on her first start. 

 Knocklong amateur jockey Patrick Gleeson rode his first winner when partnering the Pat O’Donnell-trained Extensio to take the two-mile maiden hurdle at Roscommon on Tuesday. An 11/1 chance, the six-year-old led over the third-last hurdle and was nicely clear over the last to score by three and a quarter lengths from the Charles Byrnes-trained Reverend Hubert.

In the JP McManus colours, the Enda Bolger-trained Norwigi took the two-mile five-furlong handicap chase. Ridden by Mark Walsh, the 7/4 favourite went clear before the final fence and came home a one and a quarter-length winner from Philip Rothwell’s Agirlcalledchloe, a winner for Walsh on his only ride of the evening.

Askeaton trainer Davy Fitzgerald saddled the Cathal McDaid-owned Emily In Paris to win the two and a half-mile handicap hurdle. Michael O'Sullivan was again in the saddle as the five-year-old added to last month’s maiden hurdle win at Killarney when comfortably holding the Oliver McKiernan-trained Junior Rattler by a length and three-parts at odds of 11/2 co-favourite.

Chris Hayes and Dermot Weld shared another winner as 16/1 shot Shelaka took the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden for two-year-olds at Tipperary on Friday evening. She was strong at the line to beat Aidan O'Brien’s 8/11 favourite Andromeda by three-parts of a length. The pair hit the target again as Grappa Nonino won the 14-furlong handicap at the Curragh on Sunday. The 10/1 chance, owned by Colvin Ryan, scored by half a length from Zileo, another trained by Michael Halford & Tracey Collins.

Ballingarry jockey Billy Lee enjoyed a big day at the Curragh on Saturday where he won the Group 3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Stakes on the Ken Condon-trained Moss Tucker. Owned by the Charlie Bit Me Syndicate, the five-year-old made all the running to win by two and a quarter lengths from the Ado McGuinness-trained Go Athletico at odds of 8/1.

Lee and Paddy Twomey had earlier won the two-year-old seven-furlong fillies’ race with A Lilac Rolla, a 5/2 shot. She added to last month’s debut success at Cork when getting up in the final stride to pip the Aidan O'Brien-trained 11/2 chance Opera Singer by a head.

In the colours of JP McManus, the Enda Bolger-trained Mica Malpic scored a seven-length win in the two-mile three-furlong handicap chase at Kilbeggan on Saturday evening. Mark Walsh sent the 3/1 chance to the front over the final fence and he was quickly clear to beat The Dasher Conway, trained by Gillian Callaghan, in fine style.

Upcoming Fixtures:

Dundalk – Tuesday, August 15 (First Race 1.40pm)

Gowran Park – Wednesday, August 16 (First Race 4.35pm)

Leopardstown – Thursday, august 17 (First Race 5.05pm)

Tramore – Thursday, August 17 (First Race 5.15pm)

Tramore – Friday, August 18 (First Race 4.25pm)

Cork – Friday, August 18 (First Race 4.50pm)

Tramore – Saturday, August 19 (First Race 4.45pm)

Curragh – Saturday, August 19 (First Race 1.45pm)

Curragh – Sunday, August 20 (First Race 2.05pm)

Tramore – Sunday, August 20 (First Race 2.20pm)