WEXFORD jockey Jimmy O’Rourke impressed when riding two winners at last Sunday’s Co Limerick Hunt fixture at Kilmallock.

O’Rourke teamed up with fellow county man Donnchadh Doyle to land the opening Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old maiden with easy-to-back newcomer Monbeg Charmer (3/1-6/1).

This son of Daylami, who was purchased at the 2014 Land Rover Sale, looked exciting when pulling away in the closing stages to beat Sam Curling’s Song Of The Night by a dozen lengths.

Doyle reported: “I’m delighted with that. He’s a big, scopey horse, but is very straight forward and jumped superbly all the way. There is plenty of improvement to come. Jimmy gave him a great ride and he’ll go one of the upcoming sales now.”

Half an hour later, O’Rourke completed his double when guiding Colin Bowe’s outsider Hopefordebest (10/1) to victory in the Maurice Power Solicitors five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Having failed to complete on his two previous outings, this son of Zagreb, who carries the colours of Limerick owner Patrick Hennessy, left that form well behind when powering to the front from halfway to beat runner-up Sean Ban by four lengths.

“He was unlucky when brought down the last day at Monksgrange when going well but made up for that today,” said Bowe. “He’s an improving horse and I’m thrilled that he’s won for his owner who is a local here. This horse will probably go to the sales now.”

DOUBLE

Bowe went on to complete a double when his 6/4 favourite Jonniesofa dug deep to land the four-runner Bulgaden Castle Lounge winners of one contest.

Bon O’Neill did the steering aboard this Tom Finn from Carlow-owned five-year-old by Well Made who ran on strongly on the uphill climb to the post to deny Joey Casey’s Deans Road by half a length.

Bowe commented: “This horse has been a model of consistency. He has been placed a host of times and fully deserved to get his head in front. Bon (O’Neill) said he won very snugly in the end. He jumps and stays and is improving all the time. He’ll go to the upcoming Brightwells Sale at Cheltenham.”

Veteran Powerstation (5/2) proved that age is no barrier when the now 15-year-old ran out a deserving winner of the Kevin McManus open lightweight.

Trained at Cullen in Tipperary by Eamonn O’Connell for his wife Abigail and ridden by their son Eoin, Powerstation relished the task when forging to the front at the final fence before an eight-length victory over Always Improving.

“This horse is a sound today as the day he was born,” revealed the winning handler. “He just loves work and has to be ridden out every day. He thrives on racing and it’s great for Eoin to be getting experience on him. He won the open for novice riders at Ballysteen last season, so we’ll head there again in a fortnight’s time for another crack at that.”

ON THE MARK

Lisgoold, Co Cork owner-trainer John Barry was on the mark in the Twinco Engineering six-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden where his James Hannon-ridden Magical Queen (5/1) trounced her 12 rivals.

Sent to the head of affairs from the drop of the flag, this mare by Definite Article showed great reserves of stamina when running on strongly to beat Subtle Sue by 16 lengths.

“I thought this mare might need the run as she was coming from a long lay-off, but she did it well,” stated Barry. “I mostly break and pre-train and that my first winner of the season. She’ll improve again for today’s outing and we’ll head for a bumper inside the rails with her next.”

The concluding Michael Daffy & Paddy McAuliffe six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden was divided with the first division going to 6/4 favourite Weather Warning.

Owned and trained in Adare, Co Limerick by well-known hotelier Bryan Murphy of Dunraven Arms fame, this Roger Quinlan-ridden son of Heron Island proved much too strong when accounting for Brian Byrnes’ Garrai Phaidin by eight lengths.

Murphy stated: “This is a fun horse and he wasn’t broken until he was seven. We might run in a winners’ race, but he is mainly for my nephew, Charlie, to ride in bumpers and he will be applying for his license over the coming weeks.”

GREAT SHAPE

Carlow trainer Willie Murphy has his team in great shape and he landed the second division with the Johnny Barry-ridden 5/2 shot Epic Warrior.

Left in front when leader Flahertys Gap ran wide off the home bend, the Brian Boru-sired six-year-old stayed on strongly in the closing stages to beat runner-up Never Equalled by six lengths.

Murphy, who was providing Naas, Co Kildare owner Natasha Langan with her first winner, revealed: “I am delighted for the owners who have been very patient. He was unlucky not to win at Ballinaboola back in the autumn and likes a bit of nice ground. If he’s not sold, we’ll go for a winners’ race.”

Horse to Follow

MAGICAL QUEEN (J. Barry): This lightly-raced seven-year-old made short work of her rivals in the mares’ maiden. Cut out the running and was never in the slightest danger of defeat as she coasted to a facile success. She should be competitive inside the rails.

Hennessy thriller

LOCAL owner Pat Hennessy was thrilled to see his colours carried to success by the Colin Bowe-trained Hopefordebest in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

“It’s brilliant to win here at one of our local tracks,” said the Hospital, Co Limerick farmer. “I’ve always liked this course and we’ve had a fair few runners here over the years. My son, John Neilus, has been friendly with Colin for a long time. He’s a great trainer and we’ve had a good bit of success with him. This is a well-bred horse and he won in great style today. We’ll enjoy the celebrations tonight.”

Hannon on a high

JOCKEY James Hannon was in good spirits following his success aboard John Barry’s Magical Queen in the mares’ maiden.

“This is a right good mare and I was very impressed with her,” stated the Waterford amateur.

“Her next outing will be in the mares’ point-to-point bumper at Tipperary and she’ll take beating in that I can tell you. This rounds off a great weekend for us as we bred the Grand National winner, Many Clouds, at our Old Road Stud in Tallow where we stand his sire Cloudings while we have Witness Box who sired third-placed Monbeg Dude as well. We got some kick out of that and my father, James senior, is on a high as a result.”