Harrington notches first treble of career

JESSICA HARRINGTON stole the show at Down Royal yesterday, saddling the first treble of her career, from just three runners, and made it an across-the-card four-timer with No One Tells Me at Wexford.

The northern track has been a happy hunting ground for the Harrington stable for many years. And the stylish, all-the-way win of Dundrum in the opening Smirnoff Maiden Hurdle set the tone for the day.

Ridden by Andrew Leigh, he dictated the pace and never looked likely to be pegged back by market rival Johnnyofcoure, as the first two pulled 17 lengths clear of the rest.

The winner is owned by Johnny Hennessy, from Dundrum, Co Tipperary and is considered an exciting chasing prospect by his trainer, who said: “He’s only five and should make a lovely chaser. And, with a rating of only 56, he'll run on the flat too.”

Tommy Treacy gave Turtle Time Lucky a confident ride to provide Harrington with the second leg of her treble, in the Gordons Beginners Chase, the 11/10 favourite easing past Melon Delta approaching the final fence.

Andrew Latta registered his second racecourse success on Bostons Angel in the bumper, the final leg of the Harrington haul, the 5/2 favourite appearing to idle in front before holding the late surge of Spencers Hill by a head.

In-form Davy Russell gave One Cool Cookie a masterful ride to land the featured Guinness Chase for Charlie Swan and Michael O’Leary.

Tackling a new trip, three and quarter miles, the eight-year-old was nursed around before being produced at the second last. And, having edged past Selection Box, One Cool Cookie kept going to triumph by a length and a half, with the odds-on favourite Arbor Supreme, never able to get on terms, a close third.

“He’s rated 149 and it’s good to win two races with him this season,” said Swan. “Opportunites are hard to find, because of the Grade 1 penalty he has to carry. But he pays for himself. I took him out of Aintree (John Smiths Grand National) this morning. He’ll run in the Irish National.”

Liscarton Oscar, trained by Christy Donoghue, defied a 6lb penalty incurred at Naas on Saturday when coming from well off the pace to win the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

The Edward O’Grady-trained Having A Cut recorded his second success of the campaign when proving too strong for favourite Top Twig in the Bushmills Hunters Chase.

And Matt O’Connor guided Casey Supreme to victory for Co Wexford handler Lenny Whitmore in the three-mile Baileys Beginners Chase.

O’Connor’s mount was holding the persistent challenge of longtime leader Ted Gunther when that rival crashed at the final fence. Shesadoll, left a remote second, hit the top of the fence and unseated Claire MacMahon, leaving Casey Supreme to beat Ramsden Boy by 19 lengths.

Joey Elliott was suspended for 14 days (under Rule 212) for making ’insufficient effort' on Eddie Dowling, trained by his brother Gordon, which finished tenth in the opening maiden hurdle, won by Dundrum.