Long Dog impresses as Oliver completes double
A gelded son of Notnowcato, the Chris Hayes-ridden Long Dog created a favourable impression on his debut in the Kilcawley Construction Sligo Maiden, powering clear in the straight to slam even-money favourite Thomas Edison by eight lengths.
The Oliver double was completed when Stephen Hero, ridden by apprentice Conor Hoban, landed the Tote Placepot Handeicap at the expense of Las Encinas.
Unplaced in Group 3 company at the Curragh last time, the David Wachman-trained Pearl Earing outclassed her four rivals in the opening Tote 2-Y-0 Auction Race.
The 4/5 favourite, a daughter of Excellent Art, made all and drew clear over a furlong out to beat Victory Rich by six and a half lengths.
Punters experienced differing outcomes to the divisions of the Tote Jackpot Handicap over a distance just short of seven furlongs. The Tim Doyle-trained mare Vasoni, successful here in June, justified 9/4 favouritism in the opening division while the Pat Martin-trained 33/1 shot Engage The Dance (Niall McCullagh) landed the second half, denying Billy Lee a double on Drinmoy Lad.
Lee had guided Vasoni to her second win at Sligo in straightforward fashion earlier, the five-year-old mare quickening into the lead approaching the furlong-pole before beating Gatamalata by almost three lengths.
Andrew Lynch doubled-up on Black Russian and Harangue in the later hurdle action, the victory of top weight and 2/1 favourite Harangue in the Sligo Champion Handicap Hurdle proving particularly notable.
The Paul Gilligan-trained gelding was registering his third victory in eight days, following-up wins at Worcester (last Tuesday) and Southwell (Sunday).
Earlier, Lynch, deputising for Davy Condon, adopted trailblazing tactics on The Black Russian in the Kilcawley Construction Sligo Maiden Hurdle, sending his mount clear from flagfall to win, unchallenged, by 11 lengths from Donatis Comet and providing trainer Fergus Hanley, from Oranmore, Co Galway, with his first success since 2008.
And favourite-backers went home happy after the Tom Hogan-trained Some Officer, winner of his bumper o this track last month, made a successful hurdling debut in the finale, the Tote Maiden Hurdle.
* Apprentice Leigh Roche received a one-day careless riding ban for his handling of fourth-placed Enter The Red in the second division of the Tote Jackpot Handicap.
