Irish raiders all smiles at Musselburgh

Danny Barry, who worked for the late Gordon Richards for over nine years but is now based near Dundalk, had Irish eyes smiling as he completed 65-1 double with the well-backed pair Black Chalk and Bogus Dreams at Musselburgh.

Both horses carry the colours of Tracey O’Hare, whose husband Barney is a leading bookmaker and has 14 betting shops and pitches under the ‘Barone’ banner on most racecourses in Ireland and one at Cheltenham.

The latter said: “I think you can say it has been a good day and we have made a nice few quid out of both of them.”

No chances were taken on the weather upsetting the raiding plans, with both horses having been brought over on Wednesday and clearly taking the trip well.

Black Chalk opened the scoring under Noel McParlan in the Musselburgh News Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase, taking up the running heading to the fourth fence and making the rest to win by nine lengths from Sports Express.

Barry said of the 11-1 chance: “I worked with Gordon and rode winners for him, including three on that good horse Sweet City, and was head lad there before I went back to Ireland, where I was head lad to Charlie Swan for eight years before I took out a licence in August.

“I have had a point-to-point winner but these are my first under Rules.”

Bogus Dreams, previously trained by Len Lungo, had the assistance of Paul Moloney and there was certainly plenty of confidence behind his chance in the East Lothian Council Levenhall Handicap Hurdle.

He justified it with a convincing two-and-half-length success over Sir Night and Barry went on: “The other day I rode Bogus Dreams in a gallop with Black Chalk at the Curragh, we were giving him three and a half stone and we finished upsides so the boys thought he was a certainty.

“It has been an unbelievable day and I should think we will be back!”

Howard Johnson is suffering from a bout of flu but Some Touch and Gringo, both owned by Graham Wylie and ridden by Paddy Brennan, gave him a welcome tonic and took his prize money earnings over the £300,000 mark for the season.

The Crook-based trainer said: “There are no easy races to win these days and when you go down south you have to take on the like of Hobbs and Nicholls, it is very hard, just look at the firepower they have got.

“But we are lucky to have Graham (Wylie) and some other good owners in the yard and things are going well so hopefully they will continue to do so.”

Some Touch, a winner over hurdles at the corresponding meeting last year, was sent to the front from the outset and despite being far from fluent at several fences, made all to win, albeit with nothing to spare.

Wylie said of the 10-11 favourite: “Some Touch needs to brush up on his jumping and Paddy hoped to get a lead but he had to make his own running.”

Brennan produced 5-1 chance Gringo with a perfectly-timed effort to collar Lets Roll and Major Title on the run from the last in the East Lothian News Novices’ Hurdle.

Johnson said: “The different tactics worked this time, it seemed he had not been quite getting home over two miles so we held him up and he has done it well.

“He could be the right type of horse for Aintree in the spring so we will give him a break and then one run before.”

Sue Bradburne’s Sharp Reply (9-2) had something to live up to on his jumping debut in the Sportsmasters Maiden Hurdle and did not let himself down as he got the better of Celtic Carisma and Wee Forbees to score by two lengths and a neck in the hands of the trainer’s son, Mark.

He was latterly trained by Richard Whitaker but had begun his career with Sir Michael Stoute, and Mrs Bradburne said: “We bought Stainley and Sharp Reply on the same day at Doncaster Sales and as Stainley has already won for us Sharp Reply really had to as well.

“Sharp Reply cost twice as much (20,000gns) as the other, but he could make a chaser.”

Lungo was also on the scoresheet, The Pious Prince outstaying Dand Nee in the bumper, after which the Lockerbie trainer said: “When he was beaten at Cheltenham he could not handle the sticky ground so we came here to see how he would handle better going.

“There were some fast Flat-bred horses in the race so I told Keith (Mercer) to make it and he has done it well, he wants two and a half miles really and look at him, he is not even blowing.”

Chevalier Errant (3-1) picked up the winning thread again under Richard McGrath in the East Lothian Council Tolbooth Handicap Chase, scoring by 11 lengths from The Names Bond.

Winning trainer Brian Storey said: “This horse has always had plenty of ability but he has dropped down the handicap and as he has got older he seems to be suited by three miles.”