Cloughjordan rider Shane Mulcahy registered a first career success aboard Mister Butler at Bellewstown on Saturday. His victory at odds of 16/1 in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap was the first in a double on the day for boss, Denis Hogan.
Hogan’s young cousin Jack completed the double as he recorded his first track success aboard 13/8 favourite Macgiloney in the concluding bumper. The 13/8 favourite was in front over four furlongs from home and surged clear late on to win by 10 lengths.
Hogan also made the trip to Limerick profitable on Sunday as he partnered his own Storm Rising to victory in the Limerick Racecourse Family Fun Day Maiden Hurdle.
http://www.hri.ie/hri/2018/Storm%20Rising.jpg – Storm Rising and Denis Hogan winning from Zaofu and Donagh Meyler, with Elegant Dan behind in the Limerick Racecourse Family Day Maiden Hurdle at Limerick 08.07.2018 Photo: Alain Barr
Rachael Blackmore took the top prize in the opening race at Wexford on Friday night. Blackmore was aboard even-money favourite Mysloegin and the Jimmy Finn-trained six-year-old duly justified favouritism, winning by one and three parts of a length.
Donnacha and Joseph O’Brien having been teaming up with a great deal of success of late and did so once more at Bellewstown on Friday compliments of 11/4 shot Amthaal. The four-year-old filly had three parts of a length to spare over her closest rival in the five-furlong contest.
Having won the curtain raiser with Cape Of Good Hope at Tipperary on Thursday, Aidan O’Brien doubled-up in the third race on the card at Bellewstown on Thursday as Cliffs Of Dooneen took the 1m 6f maiden in the hands of Wayne Lordan. It was a debut appearance for the 7/2 chance who faced just three rivals. Donnacha O’Brien secured the father-son double at Tipperary shortly after as Land Force obliged at odds of 8/13 favourite.
While he may have lost out in a tight finish In the Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday the Ballydoyle supremo received an element of compensation as Most Gifted took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race at Naas a short time later. The even-money winner was ridden by Padraig Beggy and was chased home by fellow Ballydoyle inmate Full Moon.
O’Brien was collared by sons Joseph and Donnacha for the second consecutive weekend however as the Irish Derby winning brothers teamed up with 6/4 market leader Vallambrosa who nosed out Coral Beach at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
www.hri.ie/hri/2018/Vallenbrosa.jpg – Vallambrosa and Donnacha O’Brien, left, wins the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden from Coral Beach Fairyhouse Photo: Patrick McCann 08.07.2018
Upcoming Fixtures
Roscommon – Monday July 9 (First Race 5.50)
Roscommon – Tuesday July 10 (First Race 5.50)
Dundalk – Thursday July 12 (First Race 2.30)
Leopardstown – Thursday July 12 (First Race 5.40)
Downpatrick – Friday July 13 (First Race 3.05)
Cork – Friday July 13 (First Race 5.45)
Limerick – Saturday July 14 (First Race 2.45)
Navan – Saturday July 14 (First Race 2.00)
Sligo – Sunday July 15 (First Race 2.05)
Killarney – Sunday July 15 (First Race 1.50)