Double delight for Doyle

Double delight for Doyle

30 September 2015

LIZ Doyle took the training honours at Downpatrick on Friday with both of her runners securing a near 13/1 double for the Wexford handler.

Tigroney was the first of her winners when making all of the running under an enterprising ride from Donagh Meyler in the Kingsland Maiden Hurdle.

The six-year-old Vinnie Roe mare was foot perfect throughout her round at the head of affairs and answered Meyler in good style when he kicked on at the top of the hill on the way home and will be campaigned over the bigger obstacles next summer.

Favourite Barrack Street took the runners-up berth under Jonathan Moore with Shane Butler back in third on The Rite Article.

Finny Maguire, son of former top jockey Adrian Maguire, took the mount on Whizzzey Rascal and provided Doyle with her double with an eye-catching success in the bumper.

The 7/4 favourite was a close-up second to Boris De Blae at the bank holiday August meeting and looked to have improved again in the hands of Maguire who looks set for a bright career in the saddle.

Market rival Taras Call and Patrick Mullins took second place, three and a half lengths in arrears of the winner with Concience half a length back in third for Meath handler Desmond McDonogh.

Favourite backers got their day off to a good start when Bryan Cooper steered 15/8 chance Dancing Meadows to victory in the September Maiden Hurdle for trainer Gordon Elliott.

Then 8/1 chance Urban Dusk gave the layers some relief in the handicap hurdle when coming from well back in the field to secure yet another Downpatrick winner for Sligo trainer Mark McNiff, who was scoring his tenth success at the track since 2011 with his nephew Derek Fox taking the winning mount.

Outsider Sister Annie and Sean Flanagan spoiled the day for local trainer Colin McBratney when proving a head superior in the race to the line in the beginners’ chase to give recently retired jockey John Cullen his second winner as a trainer.

McBratney’s Drumhart and Mikey Fogarty had a length in hand over Zigger Zagger and Ger Fox, who took third place for trainer Noel Meade.

Fogarty didn’t have long to wait to register a winner on the day as he combined with Wexford trainer Colin Bowe and 6/1 chance Gold Patrol to thwart his short-priced stable companion Don Vincenzo under Sean Flanagan in the beginners’ chase.

The application of blinkers appeared to help Killeen Elegance who won the handicap chase under jockey Andrew Lynch for Meath trainer Claire O’Connell.

Settled towards the middle of the field Lynch took closer order on his mount to lead at the third last before coming up the hill in good style to defeat runner-up Admiral Bob and Michael Butler by two and three quarters of a length.

Butler fell foul of the stewards after the race after being judged to have hit his mount with excessive frequency — he received a four-day ban.

Next meeting: October 16.