Dowling excels

Willie Dowling, who hails from Kilkenny, gave Mike Stan a peach of a ride to land the Blackwell Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle yesterday. The winner gave Lennie Lungo the first leg of a double.

Dowling pushed Mike Stan ahead at the second last to beat the favourite Raining Stairs by a comfortable seven lengths and afterwards Lungo was full of praise for his young jockey saying: "He is a good lad and I think he will make the grade. He has a good head, can judge the pace and will get better with practice and strength.

Dowling began his career as a Flat apprentice with Jim Bolger before serving a six-month spell in Newmarket with Alec Stewart. But he got too heavy and never had a ride on the level.

He was recommended to come north and switch to the jumping game and the 20-year-old has now ridden eight winners from just 24 rides since joining Lungo a couple of years ago.

Lungo completed his 20 to 1 double when Corston Joker - the 7 to 2 outsider of the three runners - romped home by 25 lengths from the odds-on Tighter Budget in the Handicap Chase.

Another Irishman, Paul Carberry, kept up his fine record at Carlisle by notching up an easy treble from three rides.

He was helped on his way when deputising for the injured Robbie Supple on Lifebuoy in the Tardy Gate, Leyland Novices' Chase.

Carberry eased the even-money favourite past the pacemaking Eternal City at the penultimate fence to beat that rival by a length and three-quarters.

It was plain sailing for him on Lord of the West who had only one rival in the Lucius Challenge Cup and the gelding made all the running to beat Pennine Pride by a distance without breaking sweat.

The defection of Workingforpeanuts from the Castle Hotel Handicap Hurdle meant that Carberry was once again on the odds-on favourite in a match and again he made no mistake.

He pushed Acajou III into a clear lead from the start and came home almost a hurdle ahead of solitary rival Ballindoo.

Carberry's score at Carlisle now stands at 11 winners from just 35 rides - outstanding figures!

Flaked Oats booked his place in the Welsh Grand National with a smooth performance at Fontwell in the Tote Bookmakers Handicap Chase. The odds-on shot slipped up the inside on the final bend and soon surged clear over the last three fences to defeat Mammy's Choice by 13 lengths..

Gerry's Pride landed his fifth win of the season in the Strebel Boilers and Radiators Handicap Hurdle when beating Lord Rooble by four lengths after the pair had disputed the lead throughout the race.