SHEILA Lavery trained a double for her brother John at Roscommon on Monday evening with Vestigia and Scatchwah striking for the Summerhill operation.

The former justified strong support in the featured Lecarrow Race, scoring in first time blinkers in the 10-furlong conditions event.

Gary Carroll produced the 5/4 favourite to lead passing the two pole and the Footstepsinthesand colt repelled the late challenge of Akecheta by a neck.

Carroll said afterwards: “It was an ideal opportunity. The blinkers obviously helped sharpen him up, he jumped and travelled well.

“He got there and parked. With the blinkers he couldn’t see the other horse. It made it a bit tough but he hung on, which is great.

“He’s a solid horse, handles the soft ground and gets that trip and he’ll probably get a bit further.”

Strong surge

Scatchwah was easy to back before coming with a strong surge to take the Oran Handicap over a mile and a-half.

Robbie Colgan was in the plate on the 12/1 shot and produced the Elzaam gelding to lead inside the final furlong and record a length-and-a-quarter win over Cast A Spell.

“He stays really well. He had a good run the last day in his first handicap,” said Colgan.

“I was worried the ground might be a bit dead but he handled it really well. It’s nice to get that out of him and hopefully he takes another step forward.”

Gary Carroll went on to record his own double on the Gavin Cromwell-trained Moutarde in the concluding 47-65 handicap.

The 10/1 shot led a furlong from home and went on to post a convincing three-and-a-quarter length win over long-time leader Kool One.

Carroll was wearing the colours of Darren Cahill and said: “He handles that ground well and he’s been crying out for that trip (a mile and a-half).

“He hadn’t settled all year and it just came with racing, he’s after starting to relax.

“He got the trip well and won nicely. Hopefully the handicapper doesn’t kill him and hopefully there is another one in him.”

Top targets in line for Loch Tay

JESSICA and Kate Harrington are set to mull over the next target for Loch Tay after an impressive victory in the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race.

The Bated Breath gelding went to post a 7/2 shot, having been second on his debut at Gowran Park back in mid-June.

Shane Foley led early in the straight on the chestnut and he powered away in the closing stages for a four-and-a-half length win over Majestic Wave.

Owner Kate Harrington said: “I’m delighted with him. We gave him plenty of time after Gowran as he just kept growing on us, I think he’s grown about two inches.

“He was only just ready to start back today and he did it nicely.

“I was very concerned about the ground and Shane said he absolutely hated it but his class got him through.

Nice entries

“He’s a big strong horse and he’s got some nice entries for Champions Weekend. We’ll just see how he comes out of this and see whether we take them up or not. He’s very nice.”

Declan McDonogh also feels there is better to come from Rosso after the Joseph O’Brien-trained colt opened his account in the mile-and-a-half maiden.

The son of Camelot was strongly supported into 8/11 favourite and after leading two furlongs from home he soon asserted to score by two and three-quarter lengths in the colours of Lloyd Williams.

McDonogh said: “He’s a nice big horse and I don’t think he likes the ground as holding as it is. He’s progressive and could go forward again, we’ll see what the handicapper does. I like him, he has a good attitude and relaxed very well.”

THE Joanna Morgan-trained Merisi Diamond bounced back to form when getting his preferred soft ground in the higher grade of the two seven-furlong handicaps.

Ronan Whelan produced the Carvaggio gelding to lead a furlong and a half from home and the 9/2 shot held Mercurial at bay by half a length to land the spoils for David Brennan, Joe Tuite and Jeremy Greene.

Whelan said: “He had his conditions and the race set up lovely for him. When he gets his conditions, he’s consistent. Any time it hasn’t happened for him there has been a reason for it.

“He’s a fine big scopey horse and hopefully he’s not done yet and that will get him back on track. He can go on to bigger and better things.

“It’s nice to get a winner for Joanna too as she’s always been very good to me.”

Deserved win

In the 47-65 contest over the same trip Cannes Do gained a deserved win after a narrow defeat on her last outing.

Chris Hayes came with a strong run to lead inside the final furlong on the 12/1 shot and she proved half a length too strong for Dark Viper.

Trainer Philip Byrne said afterwards of the mare who carries the colours of Mrs Michael Byrne: “We have only two horses for the flat and both have won now so we’re delighted.

“She’s a homebred, she took a while to get organised last season but this year she knows her job quite well and she’s on the up.

“She might be for sale, if someone is interested. I don’t know where we go next with her but Chris said there are a good few races left in her so we’ll see.”