FINN Brickley secured his first winner in the conditional ranks aboard Up And Out (7/2) who brought up a double for Gordon Elliott in the Shortcross Gin Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old mare was steered to the front at the penultimate hurdle but faced a challenge from 2/1 favourite Sandyman at the final flight. A mistake there did Sandyman no favours and he dropped to fifth as Up And Out ran on to deliver by four and a half lengths.
Brickley, in Crosby’s colours, said: “It is brilliant, but I have to thank Gordon so much. He has been very good to me and he helped me to turn conditional and get the licence.
“I had two winners for Nigel Slevin and a couple of point-to-point winners along the way. This is very good to get. I’m from Cork and don’t have a racing background at all. I started riding out in James Dullea’s when I was 13 and that is kind of where it all kicked off. He got me up in Gordon’s when I was 16/17 and I stayed there since.”
Elliott’s Mordor got to grips with front-running Dollar Value to land the Congratulations To Pinkerton On Winning The Tote Galway Plate Rated Hurdle for owner Ray Stokes.
Dollar Value was turned out again quickly after hacking up by 16 lengths in a claiming hurdle at Sligo three days ago and soon led for Alex Harvey.
The pair couldn’t shake off Mordor, though, who challenged over the last. The 15/8 favourite went on inside the final furlong to score by three and a half lengths.
Jockey Sam Ewing said: “He’s getting lots and lots more experience all the time which seems to be helping him. He’s thriving in his racing, so hopefully he keeps stepping forward.”
HIDDEN Land signed off from racing with her seventh career success in the Mighty Women Awards Mares Handicap Hurdle over an extended two miles and five furlongs.
The seven-year-old daughter of Hard Spun enjoyed herself out in front after the first flight. Kevin Sexton sent the 11/4 favourite about her business after the last and she kept on well to win by three and a-half lengths.
Delighted trainer Andrew Kinirons said: “That’s her finished now, she’s in foal to In Swoop. It is great that Peter (Byrne, owner) was here today.
“She’s unbelievable, she has seven wins for me. She loves it here. She is just able to get a breather here and is easier on the jockey.
“It is actually 17 years ago today that I rode a bumper winner (Luck’s A Lady) for Neill McCluskey who died last month. I’d like to dedicate that win to him. It is very sad, he was a lovely fella.”
Bryson back with win
It has been a long time between drinks for Billy Bryson’s stable who won the Killultagh Estates INH Flat Race with Augusta George (8/1).
The grey gelding had to survive a stewards’ inquiry as he hung badly left on the uphill climb for home impeding Dramatic License.
He passed the post a length and a quarter up on that rival for Neil Gault who said: “He did (hang off the bend), but he hung every day we ran him last year. He has been perfectly straight this year bar today.
“That’s three track winners for me now - two hurdles and one bumper.”
He scored in the silks of John Bryson. Gault was given a two-day suspension for riding carelessly.
JOHN McConnell saddled his fifth winner of the week when Sharp Object won decisively in the ITBA Mares Maiden Hurdle over the extended two miles and one furlong.
The 11/10 favourite led in the early stages under Ben Harvey and set a good pace. She asserted over the last and sailed in by eight lengths for Syndicates Racing.
McConnell said: “She’s a nice filly and she has already got blacktype and I would hope she would be a blacktype filly over hurdles as well.
“We had a little bit of a blip then in the middle of the winter, but that’s all sorted now. When she is on song, she is very good. We’ll go the novice hurdle route. I don’t know if we will go through the winter, but we will certainly go up until October and then we will see what we do.”
Step Out made the breakthrough for Stuart Crawford in the Randox Maiden Hurdle.
He rallied after a mistake at the penultimate obstacle and J.J. Slevin drove him to the front off the home turn. The 2/1 chance forged on best to prevail by a length and three-quarters for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.
Slevin said: “I should have listened to Stuart before now, he always said to hang onto him as he has a little bit of toe. I used him once or twice and probably cost him the race, so you should probably always listen to the trainer as they know the horse!”
Surprise
Sineads Fancy sprang a 14/1 surprise in the Shortcross Irish Whiskey Handicap Hurdle over the extended two miles and five furlongs.
The prominent racer grabbed the lead two out for Liam Quinlan and asserted after the last. Her lead was reduced in the final furlong by Mister Vic, but she still had two lengths in hand at the line for owner Jack O’Dwyer.
Quinlan said: “She was a bit caught for pace all the way, so I knew all she would do is stay. I tried to make the most of it and I sent her on a long way out. To be fair to her, she stayed galloping the whole way to the line.”
Mister Vic’s jockey, Jody McGarvey, was handed a four-day ban for frequency with the whip.