Eddie Ahern made it four wins in the last four days when completing a 38 to 1 double with Forbidden Pleasure and One For The Money in front of packed stands at a sunny Ballinrobe yesterday evening.
The former champion apprentice partnered the well-backed 2 to 1 favourite Forbidden Pleasure in the opening FBD Insurance Maiden, and the Michael Grassick-trained filly justified the confidence in great style. She stretched clear approaching the final turn, and was eased by Ahern in the closing stages to beat John Murtagh's mount Reve Russe by four lengths.
"My brother Brian bought her as a yearling for £12,500. She likes some ease in the ground, and will get ten furlongs," said Curragh based Grassick.
Ahern struck again in the following Ballinrobe Tool Hire Handicap with One For The Money to put him on the 13 winner mark for the campaign. The Tipperary rider again had an easy time in the straight as the Pat Martin-trained filly cruised clear to beat Melody's Castle by four and a half lengths.
William Ross, whose younger brother Anthony has enjoyed a fruitful spell since joining Mary Reveley in the North of the England, partnered his second winner aboard Derravaragh Secret in the Cummins Home Value Hardware Maiden Hurdle. Ross only recorded his first win under rules in a bumper at Tralee last week,
and sent the seven-year-old past Shellin Hill (ran wide off the final bend) in the straight to score by one and a half lengths.
Jimmy Fortune has decided to face the music at Portman Square and the prospect of a heavy suspension as a result of being found guilty of major irresponsible riding at Newmarket.
The jockey was mistakenly handed a five-day ban for this latest offence on Sunday.
However, under the Rules, Fortune should have been referred to Portman Square for his latest misdemeanour under the totting-up procedure as he had already passed the 15-day trigger point.
The stewards were unaware that Fortune had been banned for four days at Epsom last Friday, although news of the suspension should have been forwarded from Epsom through a computer system to the stewards' secretaries at Newmarket.
Fortune was given the chance of deciding his own fate by the Jockey Club on Monday.
