DICK Donohoe enjoyed a noteworthy success with Contrapposto at Cheltenham’s November meeting, and the Co Kilkenny handler once again had an evening to remember at Tramore on Tuesday last when registering his first double.

At this additional flat fixture on the Graun Hill programme for 2023, Donohoe struck first with the Paul Sweeney-owned Magnetic North in the opening Tote Fantasy Who’s In Your Stable Claiming Race.

Claimed out of the Adrian McGuiness yard for €10,000 after winning a similar contest at Limerick last month, the chesnut was sent off an easy-to-back 5/1 chance (9/4 early) under Adam Caffrey.

In a share of the lead with 2/1 favourite Kiss My Lucky Egg, he gained an outright advantage from the two-furlong pole and soon wasn’t for catching, easing to a four and three-quarter length success.

“It’s nice for Paul to get a quick return after claiming him at Limerick,” Donohoe commented.

“There are a few options in Galway for him and if Paul wants a day out, we will probably go there.”

Given a perfectly executed front-running ride by Mikey Sheehy, Vischio completed the 71/1 Donohoe brace in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.

Sent straight to the front, the 11/1 chance gradually established a healthy advantage and was kept up to her work in the closing stages, coming home two and three-quarters of a length to the good.

“In fairness Mikey was good on her and maybe caught them unawares. He built up a lead and when he didn’t have to go for her too early, I was hopeful that she would get home,” Donohoe explained.

“I’m delighted for the owners (the Goatsbridge Syndicate), they are relations of mine and have Goatsbridge Trout Farm in Kilkenny.”

Cromwell success

Earlier successful in the Listed Pipalong Stakes at Pontefract with Dha Leath, Gavin Cromwell was another to complete a brace.

While Dha Leath was made to work for her length success, My Mate Mozzie found his task much easier in the Tote Always SP Or Better At Tramore Maiden.

Second at the highest level over flights and placed in some valuable handicaps last season, the Born To Sea seven-year-old was sent off at the prohibitive odds of 2/9 (5/6 early).

Settled in third by Chris Hayes, he cruised to the front with three furlongs to go and readily increased his advantage, easing to an eight-and-a-half length win.

“That’ll do his confidence the world of good,” Hayes said of the Alymer Stud-owned bay.

“I don’t know what the plan is, but he would be a great ride in the mile and a half handicap (the Guinness Handicap) at Galway.”

‘Great servant’ Erskine keeps up the gallop

DESPITE their advancing years, Lord Erskine and Wild Shot clearly retain plenty of ability and enthusiasm for the game, evidenced by their ninth and 11th respective career wins.

The Harry Rogers-trained former claimed the Tote Download The App Handicap under Siobhan Rutledge for the executors of the late Jerry Nolan.

Sent off an 11/2 chance (from 12 early), the 10-year-old Fast Company bay was sent to the front over three furlongs out and kicked for home at the bottom of the dip, keeping on well for pressure to win by a length and three-quarters.

“He is not too fast nowadays but he gallops, that’s the one thing about him. He has been a great servant, like his owner Jerry when he was here,” Rogers remarked.

“Jerry died in the first week of December in 2021 and I lost my wife Mary a few weeks before that. Hopefully the two of them are looking down on us this evening.”

In the colours of Cathal McGuckin and Claire Wylie, Wild Shot (8/1) came home three and a half lengths to the good in the concluding Irish Injured Jockeys Supported By Tramore Racecourse Handicap.

The So You Think nine-year-old got a dream run through on the inner from the two-furlong pole and was soon pushed along to lead, keeping on well from there to record a comfortable three-and-a-half length success.

“He has been an unbelievable horse for connections, that’s his 11th win and he always runs his race. He loves the game,” winning rider Donagh O’Connor said of the John McConnell-trained gelding.

Leigh Roche was later given a six-day ban for using his whip with excessive force and frequency on fourth-place finisher Appian Way.

Zoffany lands Tramore Derby success

CONFINED to horses owned by syndicates and racing clubs, the inaugural running of the Tote Tramore Derby Handicap went the way of the Pimlico Racing Ireland-owned Zoffany Bay.

Trained by Peter Fahey, who was registering his fifth winner in the space of eight days, and returned the 11/8 favourite, the nine-year-old made all under Ben Coen.

A listed winner over flights in France, he was pushed along from the two-furlong pole and kept up the gallop all the way to the line, with a length-and-three-quarters the margin of victory.

“It’s brilliant for Tom Raine (of Pimlico Racing Ireland) who is from Tramore and was keen to get a winner at his home track,” Fahey disclosed.

“He will stay tipping away and has a lot of options in Galway. He might go for the valuable handicap hurdle there on the Saturday and could sneak in off bottom weight.”

Andy Slattery also has Ballybrit in mind for Dark Note after his battling success in the Gain The Advantage Series Handicap.

Quickly following up on his win over flights at Sligo on Sunday, the Night Of Thunder chesnut was sent off a 9/4 joint-favourite under Slattery’s son and namesake. Settled in second, he got to the front from the two-furlong pole and while soon pressed by market rival Expound, he found that bit more for pressure in the closing stages and prevailed by half a length.

“It was a bit of a gamble running him again so quick, but we said we’d have a go as he was well in himself,” the winning handler said of the For The Good Times Syndicate owned-four-year-old.

“We might run him over hurdles on the Monday of Galway and then there is a handicap over a mile and a half on the Saturday for him as well. That’s the plan at the moment.”