Waterford jockey Danny Grant enjoyed a 14/1 success at Bellewstown last week with Northern Surprise
Danny Grant landed a surprise 14/1 winner on the first day of the Bellewstown August Festival on Wednesday of last week when he won division two of the Eva-Tec Ltd Handicap on the Timothy Doyle trained Northern Surprise.
The overnight rain helped Doyle’ charge who got into the race as first reserve.
The 14/1 chance got to the front a furlong out and eventually got the better of Its Harrys Girl by half a length.
There was a treble for Aidan O’Brien at Wexford on Saturday where three of the trainer’s four children got among the winners
Kalopsia swooped on the outer to complete the treble in impressive fashion in the concluding bumper.
Sarah O’Brien joined her sister Ana and brother Joseph on the winners’ board as she produced the Flemensfirth filly to lead over a furlong from home.
The well backed 13/8 shot powered clear in the closing stages to record a four-and-a-quarter length victory over Elusive Ivy.
Joseph O’Brien had partnered Los Barbados (9/4f) to land an earlier maiden while Ana scored aboard Udogo (9/2) in the first division of the Wexford Handicap.
Their other sibling Donnacha had been narrowly denied in the Children’s Day At Bettyville Handicap aboard Cocoon.
It was a good day at the Curragh on Sunday for Fran Berry for he recorded a 36.5/1 big race double thanks to Hint Of A Tint and Bocca Baciata.
Despite being raised nine pounds for her Galway Festival success David Watchman’s Hint Of A Tint (10/1) collected the €60,000 on offer to the winner by beating the well backed Portage (9/2fav) in the Irish Tote Cambridgeshire
Berry had earlier combined with Jessica Harrington to win the Group 3 Dance Design Fillies Stakes with Bocca Baciata. The 11/4 favourite cruised into contention and accelerated away to defeat Aidan O’Brien’s Easter 15/2 by four lengths.
Smash Williams confirmed the promise of last week’s debut by taking the step up to Group Three Company in his stride in the Round Tower Stakes.
Jim Bolger’s 6/5 favourite travelled just off the pace and took up the running a furlong and a half out eventually finishing one and three quarter lengths ahead of Rockaway Valley 11/4.
Aidan O’Brien claimed the Listed Flame Of Tara EBF Stakes but not with the filly most would have expected. How High The Moon was sent off the 7/4 market leader and came with a strong challenge but just couldn’t reel in her stablemate King Of Magic (14/1) who broke her duck by half a length.
At Cork the featured J. P McManus Rated Hurdle was won in fortuitous circumstances by the Cian Collins ridden Coolmill.
Daneking, the 1/2 favourite, turned into the home straight with a clear lead but met the third last flight all wrong giving jockey Ruby Walsh no chance of staying on board. Left in front Coolmill maintained that lead to the line but not before a hair-raising bold leap at the final flight.
Walsh made up for his spill a half an hour later when he steered the Edward Hales trained Hard Fought (5/1) to a five and a half length win over Boston Heather in the Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Meanwhile Davy Russell is set for a spell on the sidelines after suffering a fracture to his left arm in an incident in the parade ring before the Family Day Out Maiden Hurdle.
Russell’s intended mount Meadowlands reared up, unshipping the former champion jockey, who was unable to take the ride.
Russell was taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment. It’s the second time this year that the jockey suffered a broken arm having been hurt in a fall at Gowran in March.
