Charlie Swan made a worthwhile visit to Sligo yesterday with a first and third race double. Oodachee gave punters with a bright start to the afternoon's proceedings when the 9/10 favourite won the novice hurdle under John Levins. The Marju gelding set made all the running, and triumphed by two lengths from Gamekeeper, despite some indifferent jumping.
High Reef gave Swan his second winner when Ruby Walsh's mount collared Baringo after the last for a two-and-a-half victory. The 7/2 shot was having her first run for Swan and looks a useful addition to his string.
Walsh went on to record his own double aboard the Jim Lambe-trained Allstar Leader in the Avena Developments Handicap Hurdle. The 9/4 favourite was produced to challenge at the last and ran on well on the flat to beat Stracomer Prince by two lengths.
'He's a nice horse who stays well. We only ran him six days ago so he might have a little break now.
Tunes Of Glory became yet another winning favourite when the 13/8 chance, which was ridden by Paul Carberry, won by a facile five lengths from the well-supported Slaney Sue (7/1-5/2).
'He won his bumper well and he just wasn't right when we ran him at Navan. He could go for a Novice hurdle and we might enter him in a handicap hurdle and see how he's rated', said winning trainer Noel Meade.
Liz Doyle made the long trip from Wexford worthwhile when Proletariat and Shay Barry emerged victorious in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle. The Petong gelding went to the front at the second last and survived a bad mistake at the final obstacle to beat Rugged Man by half a length.
'I thought he was a certainty', was the verdict of Pat Fahy after his Good Fortune won the Belfry Flat Race. Peter Fahey's mount found plenty under pressure when challenged by Room To Room Gold and eventually prevailed by a neck. Harry Rogers took the concluding Bumper with the Aidan Fitzgerald ridden Rocking Annie.
