McNamara and Whelan make mark

It was an evening to remember for former champion apprentice Emmet McNamara and champion-elect Ronan Whelan in Down Royal yesterday, where a double for Shane Foley brought his seasonal tally to 50.

2008 champion McNamara rode out his claim when Angela’s Dream, trained by his boss Ger Lyons, landed the Cruise Nursery while Whelan had his claim reduced from 5lb. to 3lb. when Fromajacktoaking captured the Hobbs 2-Y-0 Claiming Race for Curragh trainer Paul Deegan and the Named By Colm Partnership.

After seeing Angela’s Dream open her account in the nursery, racing prominently before holding the persistent challenge of top-weight Clancy Avenue by a neck, Lyons stated: “One of our targets for the season was for Emmet to ride out his claim. So this is a very important winner for him and for the lads (the RMS Racing Syndicate) — she’s their first winner.

“This is a very honest filly. She’ll go to Dundalk, for a nursery, over six or seven furlongs.”

Earlier, six-race maiden Fromajacktoaking opened his account in convincing style in the claimer, giving Ronan Whelan his 22nd success of the season and ending his right to claim 5lb.

Trainer Paul Deegan commented: “This horse has been consistent and might be a ‘Birdcatcher’ horse, if he gets in.”

Shane ‘Dusty’ Foley is enjoying a tremendous season and pounced late on Quinine to collar debutante Abstraction close home in the Lunn’s 2-Y-0 Maiden, prompting her trainer Arthur Moore to comment: “I only have two two-year-old and they’ve both won. My son-in-law Kevin Ross found both at the Newmarket Sales. This filly should make a nice three-year-old. She’ll go for a nursery in Dundalk next.”

Foley followed-up and reached his half-century for the season when the Michael Halford-trained Honour And Obey, in the Gigginstown colours, landed the Fillies Maiden at the expense of Empress Of Tara and front-running favourite Precious Stone.

Apprentices Colin Keane and Conor Hoban again displayed their talent and potential in the later action, Keane landing the RNLI Apprentice Handicap on the Tony Martin-trained eight-year-old maiden Annie Go and Hoban producing Blue Cannon, trained by in-form Noel Meade, with a perfectly-timed challenge to land a gamble (10/1 to 6/1) in the finale, the marathon Ulster Cesarewitch.