RATHKEALE’S Calum Hogan landed his first double when riding winners for trainers Eoin McCarthy (Athea) and Eric McNamara (Rathkeale) at Galway at the weekend.
He partnered McCarthy’s four-year-old Scotcantou to a last-gasp win in the two-mile auction maiden hurdle.
Owned by John Moylan, the 14/1 chance didn’t get the clearest of runs after the second-last hurdle, but he finished with a flourish and led in the final strides to deny Henry de Bromhead’s 3/1 shot Downmexicoway by a head.
It was far easier for the 18-year-old conditional jockey in the three-mile handicap hurdle which he won on the McNamara-trained 9/2 favourite Meehall.
The eight-year-old led at the second-last hurdle and went clear to win by three and three-parts of a length from the Harry Kelly-trained 22/1 chance Walk In Time.
The double brought Hogan’s overall tally to seven winners.