Shay Barry records first double as a trainer
Both winners were partnered by David Kiely from Stradbally and the duo completed their brace courtesy of Rockey Stone in the closing six-year-old and upwards maiden for novice riders.
Rockey Stone (6/4) went to the front after the second last and although runner-up Embarr Of Mannan closed as the line approached, the winning six-year-old held on to score by a neck in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.
Kiely, who also has eight track winners to his credit, initially teamed up with Barry to land the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden aboard That’s My Robin (4/1).
Queeny appeared to have made the decisive move by edging past long-time leader Cloneen Dream on the run to the second last. That’s My Robin, owned and bred by Joe Lee’s wife Hannah, however readily overhauled Queeny on the flat to win going away by two and a half lengths.
The Micheal Griffin-trained Barramundi (2/1), who sustained a crashing second-fence fall at Liscarroll the previous Sunday, destroyed the opposition with Harley Dunne in the four-runner winners of one. The six-year-old Barramundi led from the fifth of the 13 fences and he stormed clear on the approach to the penultimate obstacle to contain Burrenbridge Hotel by 20 lengths.
Conna amateur John Barry combined with the absent Vincent Halley to land the five-year-old geldings’ maiden with Abbotswood (2/1 – 11/8). Nomoreblackjack led until overtaken by Abbotswood before the final fence.
Whilst Nomoreblackjack staged a rally of sorts on the flat, the Stowaway-sired Abbotswood still obliged by a half-length in the colours of Halley’s father Lar.
