Noel Meade and Niall Madden teamed up to record 72/1 double at Kilbeggan's decent summer jumping card on Saturday evening. The two timer was instigated by Son Of Mary who despite a bad blunder at the second last went on to ping the final hurdle and land the Belvedere House Gardens & Park Handicap hurdle. The five year old raced in mid division before going on from Coolgreaney and Goose Island by three and a half lengths after the last with only a shorthead separating the latter two for second and third respectively.
Of Son Of Mary Meade said, 'We could come back here again as he seemed to like it here. He travelled well before coming under pressure and then travelled well again I would say he is a horse who saves a bit for himself.'
While half an hour later the double was complete when under a patient ride by Slippers Madden, Carndale got the better of a close finish with Akasian. The pair battled it out from the last with Carndale getting up by half a length. It was a second win in three runs for the ten year old who unseated his rider at Punchestown the last day.
Meade said, 'We thought we had a good chance in the second and third and we won the fourth and fifth that's the way it goes. We might come back here again, he is a horse who doesn't want it to hard or to soft so this ground was perfect.'
Midnight Gift landed the feature race of the card, the FBD Insurance Hurdle over three miles. Tom Hogan's mare was always travelling well under Barry Geraghty and having been up near the front throughout, she led at the second last and stayed on well for a one and three quarter length win.
'It would appear she was crying out for three miles on better ground.' revealed Hogan, 'She is in foal to Milan so she will be going to the Paddock now.'
Meanwhile having guided Midnight Gift to victory Barry Geraghty was then stood down for the rest of the day due to a sore wrist he picked up following a fall in the previous race.
Conna Castle made a welcome return to the winners enclosure when justifying favouritism in the JA Shaw Beginners Chase. At 4/7 Conna Castle was the class horse of the race and with the departure of main rivals Rockview Lad and Zulu Time it was one way traffic for Jimmy Magan's charge.
It was a win that pleased connections most notably jockey Davy Russell who said, 'I started off with Jimmy and after all the horses I rode for him this is remarkably my first winner for him. So I am delighted to have ridden one for him at last.'
While Mary Mangan, wife of the winning trainer said, 'That is great. He has done what I always thought he was capable of doing. We are off the ground now this season and hopefully he will keep going. We will play it by ear and takes each step as it comes.'
Dessie Hughes and Roger Loughran got favourite backers off to a good start when 4/7 shot Mine'sasmallone obliged in the opener. Prominent throughout under Loughran the odds on shot joined leader Mrs Diniver at the second last before jumping the final flight in front on the way to a five and a half length success.
'He done it well, he jumped well throughout and we will probably go on to a winners of one now, however he would not like the ground any quicker then it is tonight,' commented Hughes.
Having finished second on his previous two outings North Shore finally got his head in front in the Annebrook House Hotel maiden hurdle. Trained by Robbie Osborne the five year old was formerly placed on the flat for Richard Hannon before being purchased by the Ross Doyle headed, Doyle Racing Syndicate.
Ridden by Phillip Carberry the winner led over the second last and went on from there to score by seven lengths from Gilt Free in second and the 7/4 favourite Azalea.
'He is a grand horse and it is great to win one with him. He was a bit fed up when we ran him on the flat last year and took an interest to hurdles straight away once I began schooling him. He is a horse with plenty of scope and could jump a fence next season and there is a temptation to go back on the flat but for now he will remain hurdling,' said Osborne of the 3/1 shot.
The well supported Clonsilla Affairs (4/1-5/2) landed the concluding bumper by seven lengths under a cool ride by Jason McKeown for trainer Pat Martin.
By Niall Cronin
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