Trainer Tom McCourt saddled his third double when combining with jockey Denis O'Regan for a 118/1 double in both divisions of the Lough Gur Handicap Hurdle at Limerick today.
McCourt's first winner was with Bali Breeze (6/1) in division one, with the daughter of Common Grounds accounting for 20/1 outsider Knocknabohill by two lengths.
Afterwards McCourt reported 'Bali Breeze won twice on the Flat but had been a bit disappointing over hurdles. The first time cheek pieces, over hurdles, helped her a bit today.'
Half an hour later McCourt again found himself in the winner's enclosure following the success of 16/1 shot Rusty Jack (37/1 on the Tote) in the second division of the race.
Rusty Jack's win was somewhat fortunate as recent Tramore winner Monday Blues was up-sides and challenging when falling at the final flight.
McCourt mentioned 'I thought my horse was possibly getting the better of Monday Blues at the final flight but it could have gone either way.'
He added 'that was his first handicap run but ideally he'd prefer better ground. We thought he'd win a bumper but disappointed until he ran quite well in a good race at Gowran last month.'
The presence of former Aintree Grand National winner Monty's Pass in the two mile novice hurdle failed to add to the poor attendance with the horse himself suffering an uncharacteristic fall, at the fifth flight. Fortunately jockey Damien Murphy was uninjured while Monty's Pass jumped round riderless.
The race was won by Paul Nolan's Russian Buck, who put up a game front running performance under John Cullen.
Nolan was impressed by the winner's battling qualities before adding 'John (Cullen) said to drop him back in trip after the last day and it worked today.'
Nolan's 4/9 favourite Dabiroun was earlier expected to win the opening Greenmount Maiden Hurdle but was overturned by Brian Nolan's Time On Your Side, who ran out an impressive 14 length winner.
The winning trainer later stated 'I expected he to win today as she is improving all the time. She'll go for a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday and the Triumph Hurdle is now also a possibility.'
RTE racing presenter Robert Hall was on hand to greet his Shuilan following her front running win in division two of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Trainer Eddie Hales reported that the well bred mare is 'going the right way but I have no plans for her.'
