Elliott and Carberry form a good partnership
Top jockey Paul Carberry has formed a profitable partnership with trainer Gordon Elliott and the duo enjoyed a number of visits to the winners' enclosure last week with a couple of doubles. Carberry rides out for the Elliott team one morning each week and the partnership could be worth following over the next couple of months. Gowran Park on Sunday saw Elliott complete a treble with Carberry on board two of the winners and Barry Geraghty also involved. Abbey Lane, which won a point-to-point last year and recently arrived at Elliott's yard, made it a winning start when taking the opening maiden hurdle and the duo followed up on that 30 minutes later when Bacher Boy came home in front, also in a maiden hurdle. Geraghty got the leg up from Elliott to guide Cabernet Sauvignon to victory in the third race. Carberry and Elliott completed a double at Down Royal on Friday night as well when Final Day won a hurdle and Riverscape won the opening race. Summerhill jockey Robbie Colgan enjoyed a visit to the winners' enclosure at Down Royal on Friday night. Colgan partnered the Tony Martin-trained Dream Champion, which hadn't won on 14 previous attempts, to victory in a chase. Colgan and Dream Champion took over from Bumble Beet after two out before racing to a 14-length victory. It was Colgan's second success of the season. Noel Meade was back in the winners' enclosure at Tipperary on Thursday night when Gracchus won the opening maiden hurdle for Carberry who got the better of David Casey and Ixora in a driving finish which the Meath man shaded by a head. Meade may opt to send Gracchus (rated 64) for a flat handicap next and can rightly claim that the four-year-old made his debut as a juvenile in a race which was won by the legendary Sea The Stars. Ashbourne jockey Andrew Lynch added to his tally for the season when he won a novice hurdle with Queiros Bleu while Navan jockey Andrew Thornton partnered the Pat Martin-trained Lucky At Last to victory in a beginners' chase. Lucky At Last is likely to run on the flat at Bellewstown next weekend. Elliott was also on the mark when Hoopy won a handicap hurlde and could now be aimed at the Galway Plate. Stamullen trainer Tom McCourt added to his tally for the season at Kilbeggan on Monday night when Blaze Trailer won a handicap chase at the popular Westmeath track and could return for a tilt at the Midlands National for his next assignment. The only other Meath flavour in the winners' enclosure was provided by Geraghty in the opening race when he partnered the Eoin Griffin-trained Moi Desire to win the maiden hurdle. Moi Desire is likely to appear at the Galway festival. Following his double at Royal Ascot on Friday, Bohermeen Johnny Murtagh managed two winners again on Saturday, but was edged out of the leading rider title by Ryan Moore who won the last race. Moore took the award on points as he had more placed efforts than the Meath jockey who will be hoping for a good run at The Curragh this weekend. On Saturday Murtagh won on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Starspangledbanner and then took the Wokingham Stakes with Laddies Poker Two. The Bohermeen man stormed into contention for the 'leading rider' title with a double on Friday. Following a number of placed efforts since the meeting started on the Tuesday, Murtagh recorded his first double for his boss Aidan O'Brien. Murtagh got off the mark when Lillie Langtry ran out an impressive winner of the Coronation Stakes while Mikhail Glinka won the Queen's Vase. Ardee trainer Harry Rogers enjoyed a change of luck at Down Royal on Saturday where Solo Performer won a handicap while McCourt was also on the mark with Spring Hawk. Dunboyne jockey Padraig Beggy kept up his good form when winning with Mr Man In The Moon for Longford owner Jim Keogh. That was a milestone for Beggy as he lost his claim with that success and recorded his first winner as a fully-fledged jockey the next day at the same track. Trainer Donal Kinsella provided the ammunition for the Meath jockey in the form of Academic Accolade in a handicap. Ger Lyons won the last race with Vampire Blues.