Doubles were all the rage on day two of the Bellewstown Festival with Wayne Lordan and Barry Geraghty both partnering two wins together with local trainer Harry Rogers.
Lordan moved onto the 11 winner mark for the season when completing a 51.5/1 double aboard Alabama Blues and Instant Hit, the latter providing Dunleer trainer Robbie Burns with his first winner since setting up in April when taking the mile handicap (rated 50-80) in runaway fashion. The four-year-old gelding made all and eased clear over a furlong out to beat Moyeala by a facile five lengths.
'He has a great attitude but I thought he might need the run today. I have nine in training and six of the eight that have run so far have been placed, so it's nice to get off the mark,' said Burns, who was formerly an amateur rider attached to the Noel Meade stable.
Instant Hit was an unconsidered 14/1 chance (paid 45.70 for a win on the Tote) but Lordan earlier pleased punters when landing the two-year-old auction maiden on the 5/2 favourite Alabama Blues. Tim Doyle's charge was prominent throughout, and struck the front entering the straight to beat Ask The Clerk by two lengths with the gambled-on Benwilt Gold (8/1 to 4/1) a further half length back in third.
'She ran a bit green early on her debut at Cork, and has come on from the run. I will try to find her a winners auction race, and will give her a go at getting some black type before the end of the season,' said Doyle.
Mirpour completed a hat-trick when landing the odds in the opening novice hurdle, sent on after four out by Barry Geraghty and ridden out to beat Mossland by two lengths. 'The ground is a major factor with him, and we decided to put him away after Christmas and keep him a novice for this season. He will be entered at Galway in the four-year-old novice hurdle and the Galway Hurdle itself, and we'll make a decision closer to the time,' said trainer Eoin Griffin.
Geraghty followed up on Balla Time in the handicap hurdle, with the Harry Rogers-trained gelding heading Nick The Butler at the last for a length verdict.
Rogers had earlier saddled The Red Fellow to take division one of the 0-50 mile handicap in fine style, quickening clear over a furlong out under Fran Berry to beat Mount George by four lengths. 'That trip is what he wants, and he's entered again at Roscommon early next week,' said Rogers.
Rogers looked set to also land division two when Chief Odin led inside the final furlong. However the nine-year-old mare Okay found a bit extra in the closing stages for Cathy Gannon, recording her eighth winner of the season, to snatch the spoils by a length. 'She didn't get the trip at Tramore (12 furlongs) last time, and Catherine gave her a good ride,' said Curragh handler Jim Gorman.
Solo Solero put a disappointing run here 24 hours earlier behind her when taking the sprint handicap under Michael Hussey. The Bigstone filly showed good speed throughout, and just held on by a short-head from the fast-finishing favourite Trigolden. 'Michael said she got a bang coming out of the stalls last night and sulked all the way,' explained trainer Been Lawlor afterwards.
Alan Magee
