A FINE afternoon drew a big crowd to Sligo’s student raceday and Danny Gilligan was the star of the show, as he rode a treble on the all-chase card.
The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Captain Christy Rated Novice Chase was the most valuable event of the day and Gilligan sealed his three-timer when bringing Stuzzikini (9/2) home ahead of three rivals.
Trained by Gordon Elliott for VCS Versatile Coating Specialist Ltd and Francis Foran, the six-year-old headed El Champo turning for home and went away to beat that rival by 14 lengths.
“It’s great to get a treble and I did quietly fancy him, as I knew he had been in good form at home,” said the winning rider.
Stable representative Lisa O’Neill said: “That was the first time he’d had the blinkers on over fences, which I think just sharpened him up and Danny said he really enjoyed the small field.”
Gilligan had teamed up with Robinstown handler Cian Collins for his earlier winners, starting with stable debutant Great Ocean (7/1) in the Brenda Anderson Memorial Beginners Chase.
Debut win for partnership
The Great Pretender gelding headed Bigira at the last and went away to score by four and three-quarter lengths in the colours of Salvatore Giannini.
“Salvo is a big owner of mine and he has sent us over a good few of his horses from England,” explained Collins. “That’s the first one we’ve run, so it’s great to get him to win.”
Winner of the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, Jazzy Matty (15/2) upset odds-on favourite Space Tourist in the Christy ‘Frosty’ Callaghan Memorial Chase to provide Collins with his second double of the year at the western venue.
The Doctor Dino gelding, owned by the Top Man Racing Syndicate, led away from two out to beat the market leader, who forfeited plenty of ground by jumping left, by a length and a half.
“He could turn out to be a very good staying chaser,” said Collins.
“Jordan Gainford pulled him up in Listowel last week, when he felt he’d gone wrong. He did the right thing by him there and it’s paid off today. I think we’ll go to Cheltenham with him later this month.”
IT could have been an even better day for Collins and Gilligan as, in between their two winners, the well-fancied Brandt was a couple of lengths clear in the Leo McMorrow Memorial Handicap Chase, when getting the last all wrong and unseating the rider.
The beneficiary was the always-prominent Gladiatorial (10/1), who was left in front and stayed on to beat Room To Roam by five lengths under amateur Dara McGill.
Trainer Noel Kelly said of William M Brown’s winner: “Everyone needs a bit of luck sometimes and we’ve had plenty of it this last couple of months.
“Dara, and his brother Oran, never let me down. I used to tell them what to do, but now they’re older, they tell me what to do!”
A final fence faller, when in with every chance on her chasing debut at Tipperary in July, the Willie Mullins-trained Judicieuse Allen (11/8) made amends in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.
Sit tight
Paul Townend had to sit tight when she pecked at the first, but the five-year-old, owned by Thurloe Thoroughbreds Ireland Limited, came through to lead after the last and scored by three and three-quarter lengths from Miss Gherkin.
Paul Townend said: “She got a fright at the first and was lucky to find a leg, but showed bravery then to jump as well as she did throughout.”
Ballagh Star (9/2) provided trainer Yvonne Dunleavy with a welcome winner, when making a successful debut over fences in the Cleveragh Handicap Chase.
Daniel King’s mount challenged at the last and edged ahead on the run-in to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Le Grand Vert
Dunleavy, based in Turloughmore, Co Galway, added: “He’d been running well over hurdles, but really needed a fence and gave an exhibition of jumping.
“There should be more to come and I’m delighted for his owner Peter Curran, who has supported us through thick and thin.”
RIDDEN by J.J. Slevin, Cossack Chach (2/1 favourite) registered a somewhat unlikely win in the Lough Gill Beginners Chase.
A first winner over fences for his sire Churchill, Cossack Chach was well off the pace for most of the two-mile, one-furlong contest as Hypotenus enjoyed a clear lead but the front-runner gradually came back to his pursuers and was collared after the last, as Slevin’s mount went on to win by three and three-quarter lengths.
Slevin said of Joseph O’Brien’s four-year-old, who is owned by Rectory Road Holdings Limited: “Staying has won it for him in the end. I think he’ll have no bother going up in trip and will handle a dig in it too.”
Thrilling finish
The Frank O’Beirne Memorial Novice Handicap Chase produced a thrilling finish with easy-to-back 3/1 favourite Ceanndana rallying to pip the well-supported Rightfolksplease by a short head.
Ross O’Sullivan’s consistent son of Leading Light, owned by the Hows Your Father Syndicate, raced handily and took the lead before the last, but was headed early on the run-in by Rightfolksplease, who had come from the rear of the field under Sean Flanagan. The latter went half a length up but, with the rail to help, Ceanndana battled back to lead in the final stride.
Winning rider Keith Donoghue said: “He doesn’t like to be in front for too long, but I probably should have let him roll on after two out. If I’d been beaten, I would have been kicking myself, but thankfully he got back up.
“He’s a brilliant horse for the lads and they get great craic out of him.”