Kevin Prendergast and his stable jockey Declan McDonagh combined to leave Roscommon's mixed evening card with a double. The pair landed the first two races of the evening and started by getting favourite backers off to a fine start.
Tamimi's History lost her maiden tag when landing the opening Ballybride Maiden over a mile and half. The 9/4 jolly tracked the leaders throughout the 12 furlong event before McDonagh made his move off the final bend and went on to score by a length.
Prendergast said, 'The step up in trip certainly helped and I would say that wasn't a bad maiden. We will go for a handicap next.'
While the quick fire double was completed when 11/8 second favourite Alexander Goldmine held on by a head in the Come Racing In Roscommon fillies maiden. The Dansili filly made the running with fellow market leader In A Rush but when the latter found little under pressure McDonagh went clear on the eventual winner. Knysna challenged late for Colm O Donoghue but the line came in time for the champion jockey. 'We will go for a handicap now with her also,' revealed Kevin Prendergast.
From a furlong and a half out it was clear that Harry Rogers was going to train the winner of the first division of the Connolly's Red Mills Handicap but which of his runners would claim the prize could only be decided after a photo finish.
The Louth trainer saddled both Tin Town Boy and Tipolino and it was the latter who had to settle for minor honours as Pat Shanahan's mount Tin Town Boy just got the better of the dual.
Speaking after the result of the photo finish Harry Rogers said, 'I let them take their chance as it is so hard to get a run here. I entered both hoping that they might get divided but that's the way it goes, I am sure there will be another day for Tipolino.'
The second division and the final flat race of the evening went to 14/1 shot Lynott trained by Ger Cully and ridden by five pound claimer Padraig Beggy. The four year old gelding by Pivotal was always travelling well and looked to have the most left in reserve coming around the final bend and once asked for an effort stayed on well under Beggy.
'That was badly needed,' said Cully. 'He had a wind operation as soon as we bought him and that helped. I always thought he was a good horse and he is entered again for the Curragh on Saturday so we will see how we come out of this. I will probably keep him on the flat now for the summer.'
The most valuable race on the card was the Frank Hannon Memorial Chase and that went to Team Allstar in the colours of JP McManus. Trained by Niall Madden and ridden by his son and namesake the eight year old looked a winner when joining front runner Sum Leader two out.
Ridden by Phillip Enright Sum Leader battled well but Slippers Madden always looked comfortable and despite idling slightly on the flat held on by three parts of a length.
'He loves the ground and will mix it over hurdles, fences and on the flat for the meantime and he done it well today,' remarked Niall Madden senior.
That was the first leg of a double for Irelands leading owner as the famous green and gold hoops were carried to victory half an hour later when Arigna trained by Christy Roche and ridden by Mark Walsh was victorious in the Sherry Fitzgerald P Burke Auctioneers Handicap Chase.
Walsh's mount battled gamely under pressure after the last to hold on from the Paddy Flood ridden Connemara Rose by half a length.
Moneygall trainer Gerry Hayes saddled his first winner as a trainer when the Phillip Enright ridden Whycanti was the most emphatic winner of the evening. The 20/1 shot led them over the third last and soon bolted clear on the way to a 12 length success in the Martinstown Opportunity handicap hurdle.
She will be bidding to follow up on that success with a quick reappearance at the weekend, 'If she is ok in the morning we will run her at Tralee on Saturday. It is my first winner and I am on my third restricted licence. We got a bit of luck today but I needed it. I got her as a four year and to win today she has come back from two fractured front legs and a broken pelvis. She is now in foal to Blueprint,' said a delighted Hayes.
Willie Mullins and son Patrick became the second father and son to team up last night as they landed the bumper with Cuchulains Son. The odds on favourite raced in mid division throughout before challenging in the straight and from there favourite backers had little to worry about as the 4/7 favourite went on by three and a half lengths.
By Niall Cronin
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