By Dan Walsh
St Stephen’s Day is traditional a big day in racing with three meetings on today – Leopardstown, Limerick and Down Royal – and Enniscorthy trainer Paul Nolan celebrated the festival occasion with a double at Leopardstown and Limerick.
An Peann Dearg (10/1) scored in the handicap chase by a short head for Nolan’s stables ridden by Sean O’Keeffe from Taghmon. And the second success came in the novice chase at Limerick where Release The Beast (7/4) came home six lengths to the good under Caim jockey Jordan Gainford.
Wexford jockeys were in winning form at the Down Royal fixture with Sean Flanagan securing a double for Waterford’s Henry de Bromhead in the first two races with two wel-backed favourites; Air of Entitlement (5/2 fav.) and Downmexicoway (2/7 fav.), both scoring in maiden hurdles. Flanagan’s total for the season is now 25.
Conor Stone-Walsh from Cleariestown took the mount on Gavin Cromwell’s Global Export (9/1) in the 9-runner beginners chase and gained the advantage in a photo-finish – a head the verdict! Stone-Walsh’s 10th winner under rules!
Barry O’Neill is a point-to-point champion of long standing, but he was in action on the track at Down Royal today for David Christie and they celebrated success with Big Interest (6/1) in the hunter’s chase.
Friday’s racing action continues at Leopardstown and Limerick.
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