Trainer Michael Halford recorded a double at Tralee yesterday, completing an across-the-card treble after Miss Ailbe's earlier win in a mares maiden hurdle at Downpatrick.
Jockey Johnny Murtagh partnered Halford's first Tralee winner and moved onto the 58-winner mark for the season (five behind Declan McDonogh at the head of the jockeys' championship) when Eastern Appeal won the nutsaboutwine.ie and castleofflicence.ie Handicap.
The daughter of Shinko Forest chased the leaders and although short of room early in the straight, quickened to lead close home for a length win over Quicksharp.
"Eastern Appeal loved the ease and the ground and we might have come up against a good filly last time, although the ground was a bit quick too," said Halford afterwards.
An hour later, Halford's Maxxium landed the feature event, the €37,000 Brandon Hotel Handicap Hurdle, under the in-form Paddy Flood. Afterwards Halford revealed: "Maxxium had a tie-forward operation before he ran at Galway and it seems to have helped. Things happened a bit too quickly at Galway while the ground was a bit quick too; he handles soft ground much better."
Robert Egan (23), from Ballymun, partnered his fifth winner when riding George Kingston's Hit The Target to make virtually all in the Ballybeggan Racegoers Club Handicap.
Drogheda-based Kingston later reported: "I really fancied her today as she had been working very well and was up only 3lbs for winning at Clonmel. In my opinion, Robert is probably the best 7lb claimer in the country."
Champion Trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Kieren Fallon combined to record doubles, opening with Nell Gwyn in the first race on the card, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. The Danehill juvenile has a lot to live up to on the racecourse - being a full-sister to the brilliant Rock Of Gibraltar - but yesterday's cosy victory suggests she has at least inherited some of that ability.
Fallon ensured she was always prominent in the one-mile contest and despite having to nudge her along with half a mile still to run, he always looked to have matters in hand. The pair swung into the straight in second place and when Fallon asked Nell Gwyn to go about her business she soon found her stride and only had to be pushed out for a pleasing success. Lady Shanghai and Potion dead-heated for second.
O'Brien's second winner came when Kushnarekovo, a 97-rated daughter of Sadler's Wells, landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Harry Rogers' Rocking Annie ran out the game winner of the North's Real Estate Alliance Handicap Chase under Robbie Power.
