Cully back among the winners
No Small Plans in the No Limit Winnings With Tote Direct Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick yesterday.
Leigh (19), who opened his account on Pescetto Lady in the valuable Smithwicks Handicap Hurdle at Listowel, produced Gerry Cully's charge with a strong challenge on the run-in to beat Dublin Hunter and credit her trainer with his first racecourse win for over two years.
“I'm going to give this training game another go,” declared happy Corkman Cully in the winner's enclosure.
Another trainer enjoying a similar change of luck was Tommy O'Neill who saddled veteran Mose Harper to win the Tote Placepot Handicap Chase under Joey Elliott.
Trainer Niall 'Boots' Madden and his amateur rider son and namesake, known in the racing fraternity as 'Slippers' were both on the mark.
Live Our Dreams, ridden by Conor O'Dwyer, carried the JP McManus colours to victory for Madden senior in the grief-stricken Tote Scoop 6 Beginners Chase, in which market-leaders Woodys Deep Ocean and Jolly Moonbeam were early fallers.
Jupiter Hollow (Philip Carberry) looked an assured winner jumping the final fence before O'Dwyer roused his mount to take command and, ultimately, win comfortably.
Later, 'Slippers' partnered debutant Deep Return, trained by his boss Noel Meade, to a convincing win in the bumper.
Meanwhile, Meade's Harbour Pilot, who finished third to Best Mate at last years Cheltenham Gold Cup, is to run in the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Navan on Sunday.
Other featured horses in the Ladbroke Hurdle include the Bowes family's Florida Coast, a winner at Navan last season and Ted Walsh's Jack High, winner of the EBF Novice Handicap Series at Fairyhouse earlier this year.
John Joe O'Neill has plans to travel from his Gloucestershire yard for the Pierse Group €80,000 Grade A Troytown Chase. Both Druids Glen and Joss Naylor are likely runners.
