Halford on the double at Roscommon

Michael Halford, still en route from Singapore, where Invincible Ash was in Grade 1 action on Sunday, missed seeing Massiyn and Paddy The Celeb provide him with a double at Roscommon last evening.

Sent off a strong 4/1 favourite, Paddy The Celeb landed the Connolly’s Red Mills Horse Care Cubes Handicap in tenacious fashion, edging ahead early in the straight and staying on dourly under Shane ‘Dusty’ Foley to beat Noble Call and Statesmanship.

Earlier, Halford had registered his third maiden success in a week when the Johnny Murtagh-ridden Massiyn, backed from 9/2 to 3/1 on course, came from well off a very strong pace, set by Joseph O’Brien on Battle Of Saratoga, to claim the opening Irish Stallion Farms Maiden in the last 100 yards from the Pat Smullen-ridden Encrypted Message.