Geraghty at the double

Barry Geraghty took the riding honours at Fairyhouse with a 16{-1 double aboard the impressive winners Ballyhampshire Boy and Delgany Royal.

A point-to-point winner before taking two bumpers, Ballyhampshire Boy was a well-backed 6-4 favourite to complete his hat-trick in the opening Ashbourne Maiden Hurdle and certainly did not disappoint his supporters when going clear from the second last hurdle.

Always close to the pace, the favourite that was sent clear by Geraghty at the second last hurdle and from there on it was a case of how far he would win by as Scottish Memories began to stay on through the pack to finish second.

The winner will reappear after Christmas according to his County Waterford trainer Sean Aherne, who has plotted the horses route to the top shrewdly.

Geraghty, born close to the course, eventually had an easy success as well on 6-1 chance Delgany Royal in the Portadown Handicap Chase for the Dessie Hughes stable.

In a race in which the top weight Over The Furze was an early casualty, Geraghty`s mount was the only horse to get the better of 25-1 chance Cregg House. He made a gallant bid to lead all the way but went under by seven lengths with the favourite This Is Serious a length back in third.

Youlneverwalkalone was a well-beaten favourite on his debut over fences in the Blanchardstown Beginners` Chase for leading owner JP McManus whose horse never looked likely to catch 10-1 chance Topacio from the Pat Hughes stable.

In both this event and the later contest won by Delgany Royal, the three fences in the back straight where not jumped because of the angle of the sun and this proved to the benefit of Topacio, a smart horse on the Flat and over hurdles.

Garrett Cotter sent the 10-1 winner to the front three out and they were gone beyond recall when Youlneverwalkalone (4-6) eventually got into something like top gear all to late.

True Blue Victory compensated trainer Ted Walsh for the defeat of Commanche Court in the Hennessey at Newbury when getting up close home to take the IR#30,000 Ladbroke Racing Handicap Hurdle.

Adamant Approach looked set for victory at the final hurdle and on the run in, but lost out by a head to True Blue Victory (14-1) in the hands of Gary Hutchinson.