Bold Lillian makes a winning return

THE Michael Cunningham trained Bold Lillian, the dam of a yearling by the recently deceased group winner, Pips Pride, returned to action after a two year lay off to win the Guinness Extra Stout qualified riders race at Laytown last evening.

A 4 to 1 chance, Bold Lillian collared the front running Black Piper inside the final furlong and went clear to win by four lengths.

Cunningham also saddled Cable Beach to finish third behind Dermot Weld's Rockny in the Arthur Guinness Maiden and he plans to run his smart novice chaser in the Derrane Handicap Chase at Roscommon on Monday before going to Galway.

Rockny beat Nordic Air by a head and Harry Rogers, who rode the runner up, was suspended for two days for excessive use of the whip. But luckily for him his suspension falls on days when there is no jump racing.

But Rogers was in more trouble when finishing third on Zico in the Coca Cola Handicap where he received a further six day ban again for excessive use of the whip.

Francis Woods, paying his first visit to Laytown won the race on Bolero Dancer. Tommy O'Neill's gelding was winning on the beach for the third time, having won in 1993 and again two years ago.

Jenbro, a winner here last year, took the St James's Gate Qualified Riders' Handicap for Pat Martin and Barry Cash, who was closing in on Francis Crowley and Willie Mullins in the amateur championship, having ridden 19 winners this season.

The well supported Relic Image survived a stewards' enquiry to win the Guinness Race for John Hayden and Stephen Craine, a first winner of the season for the Curragh trainer.

At Clonmel, Carrick on Suir trainer Pat Flynn recorded an opening race double at his local track last evening with Bakema and Royal Albert.

Bakema and Pat Gilson set the ball rolling in the Cashel Handicap scoring by half a length from Cois na Farraige. Ted Durcan, who partnered the runner up, was interviewed by the stewards and following the investigation the stewards found that Durcan had ridden carelessly and suspended him for three days.

Durcan will now miss the two day Guineas meeting at the Curragh later this month.

Royal Albert, one off three runners for Flynn, justified odds on favouritism to take the Roscrea Maiden after rider Mickey Duffy sent the 2 to 5 chance past stable companion Templeroan Prince two furlongs from home to score by seven lengths.

Champion rider, Charlie Swan was also in double winning form The six times champion recorded a snug one length success on the Pat Flavin trained Bob The Yank in the Avonmore Foods Hurdle before following up on the John Kiely trained Bronica who came home the two length winner from Don't Loose Faith in the Templemore Maiden Hurdle.

River Run swept clear after the turn in before staying on well under pressure to land the Carrick Handicap by one and a half lengths from the favourite, Gold Wind.