DAVY RUSSELL was back in the winner’s enclosure for the first time in 11 days thanks to a 29 to 1 double at Thurles.
The jockey, whose last winner came on Solwhit at Punchestown, struck on Swift Counsel (7 to 1) and Hangover (11 to 4 favourite).
He had luck on his side as Swift Counsel benefited from a last-fence mistake by Apt Approach to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase by seven lengths.
“I was worried about the ground coming here but he seemed to handle it and may run again at Limerick over Christmas,” said Co Cork trainer John O’Callaghan.
“He had some nice run over hurdles and we gave him plenty of time to develop into himself.”
Hangover, trained by Conor O’Dwyer, completed the brace with a comfortable five-length win over Beckett Rock in the www.thurles.ie Beginners Chase.
“Hangover deserved that. He is as honest as the day is long and jumps super. Where we go next depends on what mark the handicapper gives him,” said O’Dwyer.
Coolcashin (10 to 11) gained compensation for a recent Punchestown defeat when getting the better of Faltering Fullback in the Glen Chase. Michael Bowe’s eight-year-old responded to Tom Doyle’s urgings to lead on the run-in.
“I’m delighted to get a win at my local track – I’m only 20 minutes from Thurles,” said Bowe.
“Coolcashin is a stone better on better ground and hated that ground today.”
The Dew At Night came down at the final fence to hand the Templemore Handicap Chase to Regal Rumpus (12 to 1) who went on under Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden to win by 10 lengths.
“He had a lovely racing weight today but had been disappointing. There are very few opportunities for lowly rated two-mile chasers but we were very lucky to win today,” said trainer Arthur Moore.
Katie Walsh steered Adrian Murray’s Cass Bligh (7 to 2) to victory in the Liscahill INH Flat Race while Inomas James (7 to 1) took the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase for Straffan-based trainer Derek Barry.
Pat Smullen moved to within five winners of Johnny Murtagh in the jockeys’ title race after he landed the opening maiden at Dundalk last night on 5 to 2 shot Curl Cat.
Smullen sent the son of Tale Of The Cat to the front over a furlong and a half out and the pair kept on well to hold off the fast finishing Westtower Boy by a head.
Winning trainer Willie McCreery said afterwards: “He deserved that, he’s a lovely horse and we were hoping he would have done it earlier in the year.”
Gary Carroll, who will be crowned this year’s champion apprentice, was in the winner’s enclosure after his victory in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap on the Reggie Roberts-trained Happy Moments. The Desert Sun gelding kept on well to score by two and a half lengths from Gargano.
