CHELTENHAM THURSDAY

AIDAN Coleman took centre stage on Cheltenham’s second day as Brillare Momento, Plaisir D’Amour and Upswing gave him a handsome 349/1 treble.

Jonjo O’Neill may not have hit the headlines this season but his horses are very well and Upswing, a winner at Ffos Las last time, defied a 7lb higher mark in the Llewellyn Humphreys Handicap Chase over three and a quarter miles. Patiently ridden and produced with perfect timing, Upswing led at the last and drew clear to beat Belmount, justifying 4/1 favouritism.

Southwell form may not always translate well but Martin Keighley’s 9/1 shot Brillare Momento took confidence from a win there and battled back to head Dusky Legend in the listed mares’ novices’ hurdle.

Coleman’s easiest success came on Venetia Williams’ Plaisir D’Amour, who pulled eight lengths clear of Magic Money in the mares’ novices’ handicap chase, another listed event. He may appear at Punchestown.

At this stage of his fine career, things are going well for Davy Russell, frequently booked by Nicky Henderson in Britain and now by Alan King, who put him up on 9/4 favourite Midnight Tour, winner of the Listed Catesby Property Group Mares’ Handicap Hurdle but only after a barging match between the last two flights.

Remarkably, Midnight Tour had eight lengths to spare over Carnspindle at the line but it was close before that as the winner edged right and bumped into eventual third Indian Steam, the concertina effect trapping fourth home The Organist against the rails with no chance of recovery. The stewards found Russell guilty of careless riding and stood him down for five days.

Cheltenham cannot go wrong and the attendance on this final day of the mainstream season was 11,865, up 1,700 on last year.

CHELTENHAM WEDNESDAY

Things did not quite work out for trainer Harry Fry at the NH Festival but there have been several winners since and he had a happier time of it at Cheltenham on Wednesday as 7/1 shot Henryville landed the Grade 2 Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Chase over two miles and five furlongs.

Foxtail Hill likes it here and set off in front for Sam Twiston-Davies. He kept on well but Henryville moved through to take it up three out and would have won quite comfortably but clouted the last, causing Niall Madden to lose an iron. Hanging over to the right, he still had four lengths to spare over Foxtail Hill at the line with Casino Markets a close third.

“Henryville wants this good ground and has come up trumps in a good race, so we’re delighted,” Fry said. ”We’ll keep him going and the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July might be a target. He’s a bit of a character and won’t go near the gallops at home. My wife Ciara does all the work on him and I see them cantering around a field. Ciara’s sister Aine goes out with Niall and won the ladies’ National at Fairyhouse on Tuesday so he was under a bit of pressure!”

Virtually assured of the trainers’ title, Nicky Henderson completed a double with the hurdlers William Henry and Silverhow.

The only setback came with the heavily-backed Divine Spear on ground probably too quick for him, leaving Henderson’s former assistant Tom Symonds’ Political Quiz (9/1) to deny Qualando in a good finish.

Otherwise things went according to plan as Davy Russell eased home on 8/15 shot William Henry in the Citipost Novices’ Hurdle and Silverhow (7/2) made all in the closing handicap hurdle.

Paddy Brennan won the long-distance handicap hurdle on Fergal O’Brien’s Iora Glas, 8/1. It was the first time he’d worn Ian Robinson’s Imperial Racing Partnership colours since Imperial Commander triumphed in the Gold Cup in 2010.

AYR FRIDAY

There were two big priced winner for Irish trainers at Ayr on Friday. Paddy Griffin’s Chitu took the Porcelanosa Scotland Chase under Brian Hughes at odds of 16/1 while Grand National-winning jockey Derek Fox teamed up with the Benjamin Arthey-trained Jennys Melody who stayed on strongly to win the three mile mares’ handicap hurdle at 50/1. There was also a success for Davy Russell on the Nick Skelton-trained Two Taffs.

Paul Moloney to retire

NERVE damage to a shoulder has prompted weigh-room stalwart Paul Moloney to call time on a 20-year career which yielded 843 winners. He will return to Ireland, where he intends building a breeding operation on his Tipperary farm.

The ultimate professional and widely respected, Moloney had few chances in Grade 1 races but ended with a superb record in marathons. Indeed, his Aintree Grand National record included a second, a third and, astonishingly, five fourths. He was also successful on Mountainous in the Welsh version in 2013.