NIALL McCullagh got the call up from trainer Jim Bolger and the rider came in for a double aboard Golden Spangle and Eastern Legend, both in the colours of Jackie Bolger.

Rory Cleary was booked for both horses, but was stood down after being unseated from T Or Coffey in the opening race on the card.

McCullagh got Golden Spangle off the mark in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden over the extended mile and a quarter. This was a step up in trip for the Dawn Approach filly who had been placed in six of her previous 12 appearances.

She was always prominent and disputed the lead a quarter of a mile from home. The 9/2 shot held the lead on her own approaching the final furlong and gamely saw off Nakassama and Tommy Thug by a short-head and a neck respectively.

Looked a picture

Travelling head lad Ger Flynn said: “She has been knocking on the door and deserved that. She looked a picture beforehand. We may find something for her in Galway next week.”

The Bolger/McCullagh double was secured with Eastern Legend (5/1) in the Watch Racing TV With Free Trial Now Handicap.

He was never far away from the pace and improved to lead two furlongs out. McCullagh kept him up to his work in the final furlong to see off Alma Libre by a length and a quarter.

Flynn said: “He’s a horse we like and Niall just got down off him and said ‘I’d love to jump a hurdle on him, he would make a beautiful three-year-old hurdler’. Maybe that is where his future lies.”

MY Mate Alfie ran on strongly in the final 150 yards of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden to get up close home.

The 8/13 favourite cut down a duelling Battle Cry and Starliner to win by half a length from the former.

Ger Lyons has now landed five of the last nine renewals of this race and his assistant, Shane Lyons, said: “Colin (Keane) was excellent, he knows the horse from home. He rode him like a champion jockey should ride him. He produced him on the line and the horse will come on immensely maturity-wise.

“Austin Whelan, who owns the horse, is an Irishman that lives in London. He’s a gentleman and we are delighted for him, hopefully it is the first of many for us.

“The Goffs Million (at the Curragh) would be an obvious race. They boys are totally in it for fun, so that could be on the shortlist.”

Promising

Spirit Of Eagles built upon a promising third place at this track last month to deliver in the Premier Electrics Handicap over five furlongs for trainer Michael Grassick and owner Mrs Renata Coleman. The 7/1 shot began to make her move at the halfway stage and was fourth approaching the final furlong. She made sustained headway to pick up the lead in the final 150 yards and kept on well to prevail by a length and three-quarters. Jockey Gavin Ryan said: “I took my time a little bit and I got as close to the rail as I could and the gaps opened up lovely for her.

“She was well on top at the line. She would have no problem getting an extra furlong as well.”

Authority

Gradulations kicked right away from her rivals to stamp her authority on the ASG & Partners Fillies Handicap.

The 3/1 chance took over approaching the final quarter of a mile and powered clear on the run to the final furlong. She won as she pleased by two and a half lengths from 2/1 favourite White Caviar. She carried the colours of the trainer’s wife, Saffron Oliver. Trainer Andy Oliver said: “She won her maiden well in Sligo and then she lost her way. She was a big filly and we actually couldn’t find anything (wrong), so we just gave her time and she has come back this year and she has really got on the front foot again.

“That was an extended mile and a half and she just skipped away. It looked like she would get further and Gary (Carroll, jockey) said that. Stepping up in trip has been the key.”

Praise for Woods with easy winner

SORCHA Woods earned plaudits from trainer Noel Kelly after a wide-margin success on Herculaneum in the Tote Apprentice Handicap over the extended mile and a half.

The result wasn’t in doubt once Woods kicked him clear over a furlong out and six-year-old gelding stormed home by seven and a half lengths at 12/1.

Kelly said: “That was a fair ride! My wee girl rides him at home every day and every time we go to the beach, she sweetens him up and keeps kidding him on.

“I said we would maybe put a lady jockey on him. She did brilliantly today. Maybe the blinkers worked as well.

“The syndicate (Cill Iseal Syndicate) is all local people beside us and I have these owners as long as any I have, maybe 15 years.”

Thrilling finish

Edward O’Grady’s St Faz (17/2) won a thrilling finish to the extended mile and a-half Proparamedics Handicap when he got up by a short-head from Evening’s Empire, to score in the colours of Aidan J Ryan.

Jockey Shane Foley said: “He’s a horse that probably wants to go that trip, but he is a little bit hard on himself. He was a bit keen beforehand.

“I was further back than ideal, but I wanted to get him to relax. He did that and he ground it out well.”