CORK-BORN Norman Williamson (28) recorded a double at his local track when partnering the first two winners, Try For Ever and Quinze, in front of a large crowd at the revamped Cork race-course yesterday.
Try For Ever justified strong market support with some style in the opening J Donnelly Bookmaker Maiden Hurdle. The five-year-old mare led two out and sprinted clear to beat River Valley Lady by four and a half lengths.
Quinze confirmed Naas superiority over Dramatist in equally impressive fashion with a seven-length success in the Quik Pick Food Stores Novice Hurdle. Winning trainer Pat Hughes said: "He is owned by Galwayman Pat Byrne, and will run at Ballybrit in either a 12f flat race or a winners hurdle."
Aidan O'Brien was also in double form with Glorious Gale and Impressionist. The former maintained her unbeaten record under rules with an all-the-way success in the J Donnelly Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle.
Charlie Swan hardly had to move a muscle as the Strong Gale mare cruised home for a six-length win from the Williamson partnered Fort Deely.
Impressionist provided Ballydoyle with yet another juvenile winner when staying on well under Christy Roche for a one and a half length win in the EBF Maiden.
Flying Blind landed the J Donnelly Bookmaker Handicap in fine style for Niall McCullagh. But Christy Roche, rider of the fifth Storm Master, incurred the wrath of the stewards and was given a two-day (24th-25th June) suspension for dropping his hands in the closing stages.
Meanwhile at Clonmel on Saturday, Solvang, trained by David Kiely and carrying the colours of renowned vet Demi O'Byrne, opened his account over fences when taking the Hickeys Barm Brack Beginners Chase under Charlie Swan.
Despite making a bad blunder at the second last, the Carlingford Castle gelding came home unchallenged by 11 lengths from Punters Bar
Kiely has Galway in mind for his charge and added: "He's a summer horse and loves good ground. We've never actually ran him on soft ground, and I'd imagine he's even better on a left handed track."
Al Capone II (2 to 1 on) was in devastating form as he crushed his five rivals in the £134,000 Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris (3m 5f) at Auteuil yesterday.
France's record money-earning chaser cancelled out two previous seconds in the race by strolling ten lengths clear in the French equivalent of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Having initially tracked Chamberko, the 2 to 1 on favourite went on at the final bend and from then on it became one way traffic.
Cand d'Or and Gracky were second and third as a tired Chamberko had to settle for fourth.
Basil Marcus has been crowned champion jockey in Hong Kong for the fourth time after the season ended at Sha Tin yesterday. The South African's final haul of 57 winners carried him seven clear of his compatriot Douglas Whyte.
