Sligo provides yet more success for in-form Gavin Cromwell

Seven Towers and Keith Donoghue (purple & yellow) win the Solar Generation Maiden Hurdle beneath Mount Benbulben. Pic: HEALY RACING

In-form Gavin Cromwell continued his winning run, completing a double with Belladaball and Seven Towers, both ridden by Keith Donoghue, in Sligo.

Belladaball kicked-off proceedings in style when turning over free-going odds-on favourite Cotswold Blue in the Sligo Plumb Centre Mares Maiden Hurdle, edging ahead at the second last before scoring readily by four and a half lengths from the Patrick Mullins-ridden market-leader.

“She won a listed bumper, so she was entitled to win her maiden hurdle,” said the winning rider. “She was cantering when she fell three out in Cork. We went a good gallop today and it felt comfortable all the way. I’d say she might head for the Grade 3 mares race in Down Royal.” 

The Cromwell/Donoghue double was completed when Seven Towers (15/8), disappointing in Wexford last time, bounced back to land the Solar Generation Maiden Hurdle, coming through on the inside to score convincingly by more than four lengths from 50/1 shot Hadahi.

Donoghue explained: “He had good form, although he was a bit disappointing the last day. This was a weak race and he couldn’t have done it any easier.

“I knew Eoghan’s horse was going left the whole way, so I had no choice but to up the inner, and it worked out well. It made me commit sooner than I wanted, but he got a good jump at the last and kept going well. He jumps well, point-to-pointed and will be a chaser in time.” 

Also in double form was trainer Philip Rothwell, who struck with Calm Flight Ahead and Conor’salwaysright.

Sporting blinkers for the first time and enterprisingly ridden by 7lb. claimer Conor Clarke, Calm Flight Ahead proved a 25/1 shocker in the Aidan Moffitt Memorial Handicap Hurdle, powering clear to triumph by twelve lengths.

And Joey Dunne was on board Conor’salwaysright, who stepped-up on his debut run in Roscommon to take the bumper, the WTW Willis Insurance Flat race at the expense of the Mullins-trained newcomer Run For Fun and favourite Orderly Conduct.

The season’s leading rider Darragh O’Keeffe notched his 26th win of the campaign and displayed his undoubted horsemanship when landing the Francis ‘Banger’ Burns Handicap Hurdle on board the Andy McNamara-trained mare Midnight Eagle.

O’Keeffe kicked his leg out of his irons after his saddle slipped but got the 4/1 shot home a half-length scorer over Harpy Eagle, admitting: “I knew I had a winning chance, so I kicked my feet out. We kept the momentum going and it worked out.” 

Raised 9lb. for a win in Wexford less than two weeks ago, Norman Lee’s mare Strong Contender, in the colours of Michael Hogan, displayed an abundance of stamina and courage when getting up late to foil the flattering Look Between Us by three-quarters of a length in the marathon Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.

“The ground is a bit soft for her and it was a messy enough race, but she toughed it out well,” said Lee. “I knew I was running her back a bit quick, but she’s a good, honest little mare. We’ll give her three weeks and try to find something similar again for her.” 

Philip Byrnes registered his first success since June 1 and trainer John O’Neill his first in more than three years when Move It On Over (22/1) proved a shock winner of the McDermott Farm Machinery Handicap Hurdle.

Byrnes declared: “It’s brilliant to get a winner for Paul and his dad John – Paul and myself have known each other a long time.”