Jockey Paul Moloney recorded a double as the six-day Tralee festival drew to a close yesterday. Penny Rich was the first of the pair to oblige, bouncing back from a below-par showing at Roscommon to win the three-runner Barrys Bakery Novice Hurdle. Trainer Tom Hogan attributed the success to his charge handling the soft ground better than his rivals. Moloney employed similar waiting tactics to collect the Tralee Vintners Handicap Hurdle on Gordons Bay.
Cooper Island landed a gamble for the Pat Hughes stable in the Tankard/Walsh O'Sullivan Handicap Hurdle. Backed from 5/1 to 9/4, the gelding was confidently ridden by Charlie Swan to score by a length.
Brandy Galore was a comfortable winner of the Noel Browne Novice Chase, and may bid to follow up in a similar event at Galway, while Happy Lad ensured that favourite backers went home happy, coming through in the straight under Charmaine O'Neill to take the bumper.
