Codd back in the winning groove at Castletown

Bunnenaugh (Jamie Codd red) tries to jump the tape before starter Michael Kiernan can release it before going on to win
(Healy Racing Photos)

Jamie Codd was back to what he does best yesterday with a double at the Westmeath track. He scored his first win back from injury aboard Algies Pet for trainer Philip Dempsey in the Tattersalls Ireland Maiden race for 5 & 6-y-o geldings. This 6-y-o son of Presenting was always prominent and won nicely by 5 lengths with Bach Beag in second. The winner showed an improvement in form as he finished 32 lengths third on his last run in Tyrella.

Codd's double came when he took the last race of the day on Bunnenaugh in the 7-y-o & upwards Maiden for Myles Sunderland and owner Michael Ronayne. The winner was ridden handy and tracked the leaders for most of the way before taking it up at the third last to beat A New Rising by 6 lengths. The winner finished up at 4/1 and had some decent form going into this event which included a second behind Gold Ducat in Lingstown last December. Gold Ducat was third in the hunter chase in Downpatrick last Sunday.

The opening race of the day, the Confined Hunt winners race, looked a competitive heat. The winner, Jack Monday proved he is a specialist for his local races having followed up on his win in the Pigeons by landing his eighth career success by 3 lengths with High Way Hunter back in second. Peter Flood steered the 13-y-o to victory having made all to dictate the pace to win for local trainer Tom Cleary. He will now go to the Ladies Cup in Punchestown.

The 6 & 7-y-o Mares Maiden was won by the Mylie Coughlan trained Knockane, a daughter of Windsor Castle under Barry John Foley. Nine runners went to post with the winner being raced handy and battled on well to see off the challenge of Shilmore and Andrew Doyle.

Trainer Liam Lennon also scored a double with jockey James Smyth,with Tammy's Hill taking one of the most prestigious Opens,The Barbour Cup. He continued his top form as it was his 5th success of the season. He was an easy winner and saw off the challenge of Polmar by 4 lengths.

Lennon and Smyth didn't have to wait long to secure their double, when winning the next race on the card, the Winners of Two with Some Fool. This was the son of Humbel's second win having won his 5-y-o Maiden in Kirkistown in 2009. With only four runners going to post for this contest, a small margin of 5 lengths covered first to last, with the winner beating the Andrew Duff ridden Lord Hawkfield into second by 4 lengths.