Ballingarry's Billy Lee in top form during memorable spell for Limerick jockeys

BALLINGARRY-BASED trainer Richard O'Brien was amongst the winners on day two of the Listowel festival on Monday last with Extrapolation victorious in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle.

Ridden by Danny Mullins, the Michael and Joan Toomey owned gelding had nine-and-a-half lengths to spare at the line. 

Paddy Harnett got on the scoresheet at Fairyhouse on Monday when winning the The Kilminfoyle House Stud Nursery Handicap for his boss Donnacha O'Brien aboard 3/1 chance Gloucester. The Ten Sovereigns colt stayed on well to win by two lengths from Velvet Skies. Chris Hayes won the concluding 6f handicap on the Eoghan O'Neill trained Universally. The grey had three-quarters-of-a-length to spare over Cavallo Pazzo. 

Ballingarry jokey Billy Lee and his sister Gillian Scott were on the board at Listowel on Tuesday courtesy of Racing Royalty in the 7f handicap.

The 11/2 chance kept on well inside the final furlong to win by half-a-length for the Racing Royalty Syndicate. Patrick O'Donnell was another Treaty county trainer to visit the winners' enclosure, with Dragon of Malta providing a popular 100/30f success for local jockey, Oisin Murphy. A nose winner for the Gzira Syndicate, it was Murphy's first ever success at the venue. 

On Friday, trainer Richard O'Brien sent out his second winner of the festival when Springs A Girl won the concluding bumper under Ray Barron. The four-year-old filly, owned by the Ryan family, led over a furlong out and kept on well to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths. 

On Friday at Dundalk, Billy Lee teamed up with Natalia Lupini to win the 6f two-year-old maiden with 2/1f Nikki Swango. The Paul Nolan owned filly quickened up over a furlong out and went one-and-a-half lengths clear.  

Shanagolden's Chris Hayes had to be at his strongest to get the Luke Comer trained 7/1 shot Dark Street up close home to win the mile-and-a-quarter handicap on the same card. The gelding, also owned by Comer, prevailed by a short head.  

Rathkeale-based trainer Eric McNamara and Conor McNamara teamed up to land the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Listowel on Saturday with Millstream Lady. The grey mare was always prominent, going clear from two out to win easily by seven-and-a-half lengths at odds of 16/1. 

Billy Lee enjoyed further big race success when smart juvenile Deepone ran out a convincing 3/1 winner of the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. Trained by Paddy Twomey, the Study Of Man colt went clear under two furlongs out, keeping on to score by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

Just over an hour later, Lee and Twomey teamed up again to win the 7f Goffs Million with debutant One Look. Owned by Connolly Racing, the 5/1 chance led inside the final furlong, going on to win very impressively by six lengths. 

Gibbs Island was a 16/1 winner of the mile maiden for Lee at the Curragh on Sunday. Trained in Tyrone by Andy Oliver, the James Nicholson owned colt led under two out and just held on to win by a head.  

Upcoming Fixtures:

Cork – Tuesday, September 26 (First Race 1.55pm)

Sligo – Wednesday, September 27 (First Race 2.10pm)

Bellewstown – Wednesday, September 27 (First Race 1.25pm)

Bellewstown – Thursday, September 28 (First Race 1.40pm)

Clonmel – Thursday, September 28 (First Race 1.55pm)

Dundalk – Friday, September 29 (First Race 5.10pm)

Gowran Park – Friday, September 29 (First Race 2.05pm)

Gowran Park – Saturday, September 30 (First Race 2.15pm)

Killarney – Saturday, September 30 (First Race 1.55pm)

Killarney – Sunday, October 1 (First Race 2.20pm)

Tipperary – Sunday, October 1 (First Race 1.40pm)