CHRIS Hayes, Shanagolden, is edging ever closer to 50 winners for the season. He moved closer to this mark when landing the concluding 13-furlong handicap on the 9/2 chance Chopsticks at Sligo.
Trained by John McConnell, the five-year-old asserted with two furlongs to race and he scored by five lengths from the Gavin Cromwell-trained 2/1 favourite Arcland.
Meanwhile, Kilfinane trainer Donncha Duggan won the two and a quarter mile rated novice hurdle with the six-year-old Ballykinlar at the same venue the following night.
Ridden by Eoin Staples, the 7/2 chance, in his trainer’s own colours, led after the second-last hurdle and went clear to win by five lengths from Gordon Elliott’s 15/2 shot Chortal.
Elsewhere, Abbeyfeale apprentice Joseph Harnett got the better of Hayes to record his second career success when taking the nine-furlong handicap on the Seamus Fahey-trained Sinbad My Dad at Leopardstown.
The 20/1 chance made much of the running and held off the challenge of Dermot Weld’s 4/1 favourite Medieval Night by a length and a half.
At the same meeting, Philip Rothwell-trained Mercury Mission won his third race of the year when landing the two-mile one-furlong handicap hurdle.
With Rathkeale’s Calum Hogan in the saddle, the 6/1 chance led at the final hurdleand held of the challenge of Richard O’Brien’s 11/1 shot Feud and Danny Mullins to win by a neck.
Hayes and Dermot Weld came to the rescue of punters as the three-year-old Esherannwon the concluding eight-furlong handicap at the Curragh on Saturday.
The 5/2 favourite led passing the two-furlong pole and quickly asserted to beat the Stephen Thorne-trained 13/2 chance Hightimeyouwon by a length and three-parts. Esherann was the only winning favourite of the day at headquarters.
Elsewhere, the father and son team of Charles and Philip Byrnes, Ballingarry, claimedthe three-mile one-furlong conditions’ hurdle with the seven-year-old Reverend Hubert at Kilbeggan.
Owned by James Flaherty, the 11/8 favourite made much of the running and scored by an easy 11 lengths from the Ger O’Leary-trained 13/8 chance Jabbar.
Philip was in the winners enclosure at Ballinrobe on Monday courtesy of Hopes Are High (14/1) for trainer William Durkan. The jovial owners were ‘Don’t Tell Your Mother’ syndicate.
