Owner J.P.McManus' horses are regular visitors to winner's enclosures around the country although it is a rare occurrence when he records a Flat double, a feat he achieved at Roscommon tonight.
Puck Out kicked-off the McManus double with a win in the opening 1m2f maiden under Fran Berry. The smart hurdler, whose wins included a recent success at the Aintree Festival, will now be aimed at the Galway Hurdle, according to Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus and father of the winning jockey. Berry added 'he is better over hurdles but wouldn't want it any faster than today's ground.'
Unfortunately, runner-up in the race, Cill Ronain, collapsed and died shortly after passing the line.
The McManus double was completed in some style when Team Allstar ran out an effortless winner of division two of the 1m4f handicap. Niall McCullagh's mount was eased down inside the final furlong for a two length win.
Winning trainer Niall Madden later reported 'he has improved since last year and will mix between Flat and hurdle races now.'
Trainer Dermot Weld left an eight race card at Gowran Park the previous day without a winner but rectified that by saddling Russian Tsar to win the Castlerea Maiden at the Roscommon venue. The winner showed the benefit of four previous runs when staying on best to defeat Pelagias Star by two lengths.
Co. Kilkenny jockey Darren O'Dwyer partnered his second winner when guiding Tarn Ridge to an all-the-way success in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. Winning trainer Paul Nolan praised the jockey's ride while adding 'Tarn Ridge needs good ground and cannot travel in soft ground. He will mix between hurdle and flat races during the Summer.'
The Sherry Fitzgerald P. Burke Auctioneers Handicap Chase went to Arthur Moore's Mount Kimble The winner received a typically forceful drive from jockey Barry Cash, despite drifting to the right from the final fence while the Red Mills Handicap was won by Harry Rogers' Baltray Queen
Wests Awake proved a topically named winner at the well attended meeting, landing a hat-trick of wins in the 2m5f handicap chase. Trainer Iggy Madden, who was not present, has done a fine job with the eight year old gelding who has progressed very well in recent months.
The concluding bumper was won by Frances Crowley's newcomer Gimli's Axe, who was providing jockey Tom Cleary with his first winner on only his second racecourse ride.
Thomas Weekes
