Well executed doubles for Walsh and Smullen
Smullen, who endured a lean weekend at the Curragh, brought is seasonal tally to 32 and moved into second place, behind Fran Berry, in the race for the Jockeys Championship when scoring on Who’d Of Guest and Polly Anthus.
Smullen made his move approaching the straight on the Michael Halford-trained Who’d Of Guest in the opener and then drove him clear for a convincing victory over Wangara.
But the Offaly-born rider had to work much harder on the well supported Polly Anthus which defied top weight in the Alliance, Plc. Handicap, coming through with a strong late challenge to collar Goose Island close home and giving trainer Arthur Moore his first flat success in two years.
Ruby Walsh is widely recognised as a master tactician and this quality was again evident as he triumphed on Baltray Queen and Valshan.
He produced Baltray Queen at the final flight to master Secret Glen before driving the Harry Rogers-trained mare clear.
And he timed his challenge similarly on top weight Valshan, trained by Tom Mullins, in the Sligo Park Handicap Hurdle. He drove the mare clear for a convincing win to complete a 35/1 double.
Trainer Tony Mullins, responsible for the beaten favourites in both flat handicaps, enjoyed better luck when Toccata Aria, making her Irish debut having been bought out of Milton Bradley’s yard in England, made all under Seamus Heffernan to foil favourite Torcello in the Sligo Claiming Race.
Jim Culloty, on a rare visit to Sligo, looked set for victory on favourite Trampoline King in the maiden hurdle but he was caught on the line by the 12/1 shot Tedeen, trained by Pat Fahy and strongly ridden by Davy Russell.
Trainer David Marnane has made an impressive start to his training career since returning from Dubai and recorded his first bumper success when Tarad, ridden by Jamie Codd, squeezed through on the inside in the final furlong to beat Keelaghan in the Harry’s Bar Flat Race.
