Colin Keane on the mark at Naas
HORSE RACING
Champion jockey Colin Keane notched up his first winner of the new season and gave former Curragh trainer Michael O'Callaghan his first winner from his new base in Brannockstown when Red Letter Bray took the near six-furlong three-year-old maiden at Naas on Sunday.
Former champion Declan McDonogh from Moynalty also got off the mark for the new term as he won the Listed Plusvital Devoy Stakes on the Joseph O'Brien-trained Visualisation.
Drumree’s Chris Timmons took the concluding eight-furlong handicap at Dundalk with the Adam Caffrey-ridden Razdan on Friday.
Owner/trainer James McAuley saddled Tawaazon to win the opening five-furlong handicap.
A 13/2 chance in the hands of Colin Keane, the five-year-old scored in great style, coming home an easy four lengths clear of the Edward Lynam-trained 5/2 favourite Collective Power.
Lynam went a place better in the next race as Celtic Revival, owned and bred by his wife Aileen, took the 12-furlong handicap.
Like Celtic Revival, the George Kingston-trained Hero Of The Hour recorded his third Dundalk success of 2023 when winning the six-furlong handicap.
Athboy-based Andrew McNamara won the eight-furlong handicap with the Jack Kearney-ridden Ellabella.
Owner/trainer Edward Cawley added to Monday’s Navan success as his nine-year-old Waittillitellyou took the three-mile handicap hurdle at Cork on Thursday. Phillip Enright was in the saddle as the 15/2 chance came from well off the pace to record a four-length win over Wowsham.
LIMERICK
Summerhill trainer Gordon Elliott ended the week with a couple of winners at Limerick on Sunday.
Deeply Superficial took the two-mile mares’ hurdle in good style under Cheltenham Festival-winning jockey Aidan Kelly.
Jamie Codd steered The Yellow Clay to a two and a half-length win in the Listed bumper. A 4/6 favourite, the four-year-old maintained a prominent position throughout and led at the furlong pole.
Thedevilscoachman, trained by Noel Meade, jumped to the head of the early betting for the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday with a cosy success in the Grade 3 Hugh McMahon Memorial Novice Chase.
CLONMEL
Dermot McLoughlin and Rathfarnham conditional jockey Michael Molloy landed the two-mile two-furlong maiden hurdle at Clonmel on Tuesday with the Con Smyth-owned Bocelli’s Voice.