McDonogh continues relentless pursuit of title with double

DECLAN MCDONOGH continued his relentless pursuit of a first Jockeys' Championship when recording a double on Osprey View and Nakiska at rain-soaked Ballinrobe yesterday.

McDonogh has been in superb form all season and was bringing his tally for 2006 to 79 here, initiating the double on the Kevin Prendergast-trained Osprey View in the second division of the nine-furlong Moylough Concrete Handicap.

Carrying the colours of well-known Naas auctioneer Colm McEvoy, he finished strongly to peg back the flattering top-weight Merlins Profit to triumph by three quarters of a length.

The champion-elect completed his double when Nakiska, winner of backend maiden at Roscommon last year, won the J J Burke Peugeot & Isuzu Race in convincing style from Leeside Music.

Winning trainer Michael Grassick explained: “The ground is the key to this filly. She needs it soft.

“I hope to get some black type for her now, although we might need to travel, to Italy or Germany perhaps.”

While apprentice Keith Maher proved an able deputy for Colm O'Donoghue on 20/1 shot Pesante in the opener, it was Fran Berry who enjoyed the easiest success in the flat action, partnering Total Victory, from Tom Hogan's in-form yard, to an easy win in the Cummins Homevalue Hardware Handicap.

Sent clear by Berry with more than two furlongs to race, Total Victory was eased down by Berry in the final furlong and still had six lengths to spare over Long Journey. A jubilant Hogan quipped: “Fran's wing-mirrors got a bit fogged up,” before explaining - “He's a fair horse, but he's a bit lazy. That's why he needs the cheekpieces. We'll wait and see what the handicapper does before we make plans for him.”

Eleven-year-old Akasian surprised even his trainer Pat Hughes when making all under Philip Carberry to land the John McMahon Handicap Chase, Hughes commenting: “He has always been a summer horse and I thought he needed firm ground. He's entered in the north tomorrow, but won't be going there. You won't see him again for three or four weeks.”