Lightning strikes again!

Nineteen years after he won the Conyngham Cup at Punchestown as a jockey for the late John Fowler back in 1992 with Chattering, Thomas Gibney returned to the winners' enclosure at the Kildare track last week, this time as the trainer of Lion na Bearnai to win the trophy again. Lion Na Bearnai was winning for the first time at the 25th attempt to the delight of the group of owners who comprise the Lock Syndicate. The members include Tom Gilsenan, Louis Leavy and Pat Leavy from Kilskyre along with Peter and Michael Farrelly from Ballinlough and a couple of Dublin horseracing enthusiasts. Last week's race wasn't without incident and the runner-up, Optimum Force, was disqualified and his jockey, Kevin Power was suspended for 14 days after the stewards reviewed the action. However, Lion Na Bearnai made all the running and stayed out of trouble, but idled on the run in before eventually holding the challenge of Optimum Force. There was more local success at the weekend. Kells trainer Maura McGuinness caused a shock in the second race at Down Royal on Friday night when Afram Blue (25/1) obliged and paid a massive €191.70 on the Tote. The trainer was two-handed in the race with previous Down Royal winner Kyoto Summit which could only finish 12th. However, the trainer only found out on Friday afternoon that Afram Blue (a reserve) would get a run. Jockey Ian McCarthy received a one day ban for his use of the whip on the winner which is owned by the Galapagos Syndicate and had won twice on the flat when trained in England as a juvenile and a three-year-old. Robert Power won the opening race at Down Royal for trainer Ken Condon while the Stamullen father and son team of Peter (trainer) and Oliver (jockey) Casey combined to win a handicap with Desert Ben. Noel Meade registered a win with the former John Oxx-trained Still Point which won a seven-furlong maiden for Fran Berry. Meade was also on the mark at Cork where Paul Carberry won with Jakros. Carberry completed a double with Chino Valdes for Gordon Elliott while Barry Geraghty and Tony Martin were also in the winners' enclosure at the Munster track. Meade and Carberry were the star performers on Sunday's card at Downpatrick, combining to complete a double with Original Option and Eirland. Pat Martin and Andrew Thornton were also in double form with Nivek's Dream and Strolling Home which marked a successful return to action for the Navan jockey after a long-term injury. Pat Downey recorded his second winner under rules when Brega Queen won a handicap hurdle for Barry Cash, who replaced Robbie Colagn who was stood down after an earlier fall. Brega Queen could next go to Bellewstown. Trim native Emmet Butterly, who now trains in Donegal, made a successful raid to Lingfield last week where he won the concluding race on the card with the gambled-on Mnarani. Butterly has a 100 per cent record at the track with three winners from three runners and has established a reputation as a specialist at Lingfield and Wolverhampton where he has enjoyed considerable success this year. The fixture scheduled for Fairyhouse this Wednesday has been cancelled following a course inspection on Monday which revealed that the ground had not recovered sufficiently following winter racing. The situation will be monitored with regard to the scheduled forthcoming flat fixtures at the track.