Michael Duggan

CORK jockey Brian Linehan took the honours when riding two winners at last Saturday’s Co Limerick Hunt meeting at Athlacca.

Linehan paid his first visit of the afternoon to the winner’s enclosure when guiding impressive newcomer Give Me A Copper (5/2) to victory for Carrigtwohill, Co Cork owner-trainer-breeder Donal Coffey in the Islanmore Stud five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Sent to the front after two out, Give Me A Copper quickened up in great style on the uphill climb to the winning post to beat runner-up Remember Forever by eight lengths.

“We had little enough done with this horse and kind of surprised me how well he’s won,” said Coffey. “He has had lots of slow work, but hardly any fast stuff. He jumped really well and looks a very good horse. We have no firm plans for him.”

Linehan completed his double aboard Oscar Day (2/1 joint-favourite) in the Conack Construction & Sean Sheehy mares’ banks race.

This daughter of Oscar, who is trained in Co Kildare by Peter Maher for his partner Caroline Woods, assumed command two out and stuck her neck out gamely at the end of this three and a half-mile cross-country event to deny Eugene O’ Sullivan’s Forever Eva by eight lengths.

The winning rider remarked: “This mare had a really good run when third to Wish Ye Didn’t in the Ladies Cup at Punchestown and I thought she’d go close today. She jumped super all the way and stayed at it really well when she had to.”

Tim Donworth is on course to be crowned champion novice rider and the Co Limerick native was seen to good effect when giving Gordon Elliott’s 2/1 favourite Current Exchange a power-packed ride to land the Maurice Power Solicitors Banks Race for geldings.

Clear from flag fall, this Kanis Bloodstock Investments Partnership-owned 10-year-old shook off the attentions of runner-up Enniskillen in the closing stages to beat that rival by four lengths.

Simon McGonagle, representing the winning trainer, revealed: “He’s a good, tough horse and did it the hard way today. He jumped brilliantly all the away and Tim gave him a great ride. I’m delighted for him as this is one of his local tracks and that’s makes it all the sweeter.”

Carlow trainer Aidan Fitzgerald has a smart recruit on his hands in Bigirononhiship (1/1 favourite) who landed a decent touch in the opening Doncaster Spring Sales four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

This Philomena Crampton-owned youngster was given a fine ride by Richie Deegan who sent the son of Beneficial to the front at the final fence and he galloped on strongly to deny Enda Bolger’s Strangford Lough by a length.

“This is a special horse and we’ve always thought the world of him. In fact, he’s as good as I’ve ever had,” said Fitzgerald. “Today was his day and we were confident he’d win. Richie gave him a brilliant ride and I’m delighted for all concerned. He may well be sold now.”

Thirteen faced the starter in the STL Logistics five and six-year-old mares’ maiden with victory going to the Mark Scallan-ridden Subtle Sue (4/1).

Trained in Co Wexford by John Walsh for fellow county man Thomas Kirwan, Subtle Sue went to the front after three out and stayed on resolutely to beat Harry Kelly’s Twiss’s Hill by four lengths.

Walsh remarked: “This is big, honest mare who has been unlucky up to now. She’s had a few small little issues - nothing major - but we’ve sorted all those out and there is still plenty of improvement to come. She’ll probably go to the sales.”

Limerick owner-trainer-rider Denis Collins had a moment to savour when guiding 8/1 outsider Day Of Roses to success in the opening division of the concluding Greengrass Landscaping & Niall Foley six-year-old and upwards maiden.

Collins, who is based at Clonshire, kept this son of Acamboro going in the closing stages to deny runner-up Double Island by half a length.

“That’s my first winner as a trainer and only my second ever winner as a jockey,” reported a delighted Collins. “I only have this horse a couple of months and he was way too keen with me the last day when down the field at Ballysteen, but he settled beautifully today. He just loves passing horses and came home well. I’ll probably sell him after this.”

The second division was won in good style by the Eoin O’Brien-ridden 5/2 shot Red River Gold.

Trained in Midleton, Co Cork by Donie Murphy for Ballincurrig publican Anthony Smart, this seven-year-old by Croco Rouge, who was second at Dromahane on his previous start, made no mistake this time round when stretching clear in the closing stages to beat Martin Cullinane’s In The Tub by eight lengths.

Murphy stated: “Thankfully our horses are in great form and our last three runners have all won. This horse has been knocking on the door and I knew he’d get his turn at some stage. We’ll probably have a crack at a hunter’s chase with him next.”

Bigiron’ cashes in

CRIES of ‘Up Wexford’ rang out in the number one berth following the success of the gambled-on Bigirononhiship in the opener as well-known racing figure Paddy Kehoe led in the Aidan Fitzgerald-trained winner. “I own this fellow with my sister, Philomena Frampton,” said Kehoe. “I’ve been involved in horses all my life and Grabel won 27 races in my colours while I was also involved with the likes of Antarctic Bay and Abbey Glen.

“We bred Bigirononhiship and Liam Walsh looks after all our horses for us on his farm at Glynn in Co Wexford. He is named after a Johnny Cash song and his dam, Portobello Lady, won three races when trained by Jim Gorman. He is a very good horse and Aidan did a brilliant job in training him. He’s for sale now,” added Dublin-based Kehoe who was joined in the winner’s enclosure by his mother Ena.

Exchange rate good value

THE success of Tim Donworth aboard Gordon Elliott’s Current Exchange in the geldings’ banks race brought a huge smile to the face of his mother, Honora, who together with her husband, John, are proprietors of Roundhill Stud at nearby Patrickswell.

Ms Donworth remarked: “I am very proud of Tim and couldn’t be more delighted for him. He rides out for Gordon every morning before going into college in Maynooth where he is completing an Equine Science course.

“We bought this horse at Doncaster last September on Gordon’s recommendation and he has won three banks races for us since then. We toyed with the notion of going for the La Touche at Punchestown but decided to keep him especially for today’s race and it’s worked out perfectly.”

HORSE TO FOLLOW

GIVE ME A COPPER (Donal Coffey): This fellow made a hugely impressive debut when landing the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Comes from a pedigree laden with winners and the manner of this success suggests the son of Presenting can also go on to bigger and better things.