Wexford jockey Seán Flanagan back from Oz for home wins

Irish Independent

a day ago

Double success just three days after finishing fourth in Australian Grand National Hurdle
Altimara and Donagh O'Connor win for Ross O'Sullivan at Leopardstown on Thursday. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post
The Jordan Gainford-ridden Laurie Blue won the opening division of the two-mile maiden hurdle at Roscommon on Tuesday.
Owned by Diane Flanagan and trained by Eamonn Delany, the 4/1 chance made much of the running and although headed approaching the final hurdle, the seven-year-old battled back to beat John Nallen's 5/4 favourite Firebrand by two lengths.
Seán Flanagan finished fourth in the Australian Grand National Hurdle three days earlier and he arrived back home in time to ride two winners at Wexford on Wednesday.
The six-year-old Ashdale Flyer gave the local jockey his first success of the afternoon when winning the two-mile three-furlong beginners' chase.
The Diarmuid Hogan-owned 33/1 chance, trained by Jessica Harrington, wore down Ian Donoghue's front-running 6/1 shot West Away close to the finish to score by a length.
Flanagan doubled up on the Martin Hassett-trained seven-year-old Bynx in the two-mile handicap chase.
The BTF Racing Club-owned 7/2 chance led four fences out and was clear before the last to win by an easy seven lengths from Henry de Bromhead's 4/1 shot Itwasfate.
Eoin Staples continues to make a name for himself and he was on the mark again when partnering the Donncha Duggan-trained six-year-old Ballykinlar to take the two and a quarter-mile rated novice hurdle at Sligo on Thursday.
The 7/2 chance, in his trainer's own colours, led after the second-last hurdle and went clear to win by five lengths from Gordon Elliott's 15/2 shot Chortal.
Donagh O'Connor gave trainer Ross O'Sullivan his second winner of the week as the Yvonne Lavin-owned Altimara took the seven-furlong handicap at odds of 13/2 co-favourite at Leopardstown on Thursday.
The four-year-old led inside the final furlong to beat John McConnell's 7/1 shot Shelbourne Flyer by a length.
Conor Stone-Walsh was among the winners at Wexford on Friday evening where he partnered the Ian Donoghue-trained five-year-old Small Town Hero to take the second division of the three-mile handicap hurdle.
Owned by the Kilkenny Racing Syndicate, the 9/4 favourite made all the running and went clear form the second-last hurdle to win by an easy nine lengths from Tim Doyle's 16/1 shot No Fussing.
J.J. Slevin landed a Sunday winner in the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede colours as the 6/1 chance Dramatic License landed the two and three-quarter-mile maiden hurdle at Downpatrick.
The five-year-old left it late but got up in the final strides to beat Edward and Partick Harty's 11/4 chance Cut The Rope by a neck.
The previous week's Galway Festival saw Seán O'Keeffe get off the mark and give Willie Mullins his third winner when leading home a 1-2 for the stable on Gold Dancer in the Grade 3 Guinness Open Gate Brewery Novice Chase on the Thursday.
Owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the 7/1 chance came with a late challenge and headed the Paul Townend-ridden front-running 85/40 favourite Westport Cove close to the finish to score by two and a half lengths.
Conditional jockey Eoin Staples landed his first Galway Festival success when partnering the Gavin Cromwell-trained Come On The Lads to take the two-mile one-furlong handicap hurdle on the Saturday.
The 22/1 joint-outsider of the 15-runner field came from off the pace and despite not getting the clearest of runs in the straight, he got up on the line to beat Emmet Mullins' 7/2 favourite Toll Stone by a head.
Fixtures: Gowran Park – Wednesday, August 13 (first race 5.05 p.m.); Cork – Thursday, August 14 (first race 5.22 p.m.); Tramore – Thursday, August 14 (first race 5.05 p.m.); Tramore – Friday, August 15 (first race 5 p.m.); Dundalk – Friday, August 15 (first race 1.45 p.m.); Curragh – Saturday, August 16 (first race 1.42 p.m.); Tramore – Saturday, August 16 (first race 5 p.m.); Tramore – Sunday, August 17 (first race 2.30 p.m.).