Limerick jockey Wesley Joyce continues rich vein of form on the track

COMEBACK kid Wesley Joyce rode his tenth winner of the season as Rough And Tough scored a narrow success for Mick Mulvany in the opening division of the nine-furlong handicap at Gowran Park on Monday last.

The Kells trainer has been central to the resurgence of the Limerick apprentice and the pair shared their fourth winner of the season together as the 100/30 joint-favourite made much of the running to win by half a length from the Aidan Howard-trained Adhuil. The Charles Byrnes-trained Ellaat won the concluding 12-furlong handicap at odds of 4/1.

The seven-year-old came from of the pace to win by three-parts of a length from the Dick Brabazon-trained Fair Damsel under Sean Davis.

Remarkably, Rough And Tough made a quick reappearance to win for the second time in as many days and at the same price at Gowran Park Tuesday. He was the second of two winners on the afternoon for Mulvany who won the opening seven-furlong nursery handicap with the Billy Lee-ridden Dont Do Dramas.

The A & J Partnership-owned 7/2 favourite made all the running and held off the challenge of Guest Star, trained by Darren Bunyan & Ger O’Leary, by half a length to give the jockey his 70th winner of the season.

Ben Coen took over in the saddle on Rough And Tough and he certainly had an easier time of it as he took the eight-furlong handicap by all of three and a half lengths with the Tim Doyle-trained Silkies Sib taking second place.

Ballingarry jockey Lee was a winner again at Navan on Wednesday where he partnered the Willie McCreery-trained Vassula Ryden to an impressive success in the opening median auction maiden over the extended five furlongs.

The 11/8 chance led inside the final furlong and stretched clear to win by three and a half lengths from the Patrick Magee-trained Goldrush Kid in the colours of owner Steve Fisher. Chris Hayes took the five-furlong handicap on trainer Sarah Lynam’s stalwart Screen Siren.

The Trevor Dalzell-owned five-year-old landed her second success of the season and her fourth in all with a taking four and a quarter-length win from the Mick Mulvany-trained Rathbranchurch. Charles Byrnes landed his second winner of the week as the Adam Caffrey-ridden Viceregent took the opening division of the 14-furlong handicap.

The 4/1 chance pegged back Francis Casey’s front-runner Jazzy Rock close to the finish to win by half a length in the colours of the Golden Circle Group Syndicate.

Rathkeale trainer Eric McNamara and his son Conor were winners on one of the biggest days of the year at their local track as Millstream Lady was awarded the Garrynacurra Stud Handicap Hurdle in the stewards’ room at Limerick on Sunday. In the race itself, she lost out by a head to the Philip Rothwell-trained Rockbrook but the result was overturned after she was deemed to have suffered interference after the final hurdle.

A more clear-cut winner was the Michael McDonagh-trained Positive Thinker in the John Thomas McNamara Series Qualified Riders Handicap Hurdle. The Adam Ryan-ridden 6/5 favourite got the better of the Eric McNamara-trained Mont Saint Vincent by one and a quarter lengths, the pair all of 31 lengths clear of the third horse home, Declan Queally’s Robyndeglory.

McDonagh’s grandson Mark was in the saddle as the Eoin Griffin-trained Jody Ted made a winning seasonal debut in the two-mile three-furlong handicap chase. On his first start since the Punchestown festival, the 16/5 joint-favourite had any amount in hand as he beat Gordon Elliott’s Pats Choice by eight lengths.

The Michael McDonagh-trained Battle Of Mirbat took third place in the race.

Upcoming Fixtures: 

Curragh – Wednesday, October 25 (First Race 1.05pm)

Clonmel – Thursday, October 26 (First Race 2pm)

Dundalk – Friday, October 27 (First Race 5.30pm)

Sligo – Friday, October 27 (First Race 1.50pm)

Galway – Saturday, October 28 (First Race 1.55pm)

Galway – Sunday, October 29 (First Race 12.40pm)

Wexford – Sunday, October 29 (First Race 1pm)