FORMER Taoiseach Charles J Haughey celebrated his 71st birthday with a winner at Roscommon last evening. Draft Of Vintage, trained by his son in law John Mulhern and ridden by Michael Kinane justified favouritism with a length and a half success in the Tully Maiden.
Leading from a furlong down the gelded Draft Of Vintage held the challenge of Masafiya. Asked if he had any plans for the winner Mulhern replied: "No. That was the plan." What else?
Mulhern had initiated a winning double with All The One in the Creggs Apprentice Handicap. After the winner had finished third in a handicap at Leopardstown on Saturday his rider Jamie Spencer told the trainer he would have finished higher but for interference and if he were to run at Roscommon he would win.
All The One arrived with a strong run well inside the final furlong to beat the disputing duo Blacktrench Lady and Comrade Chinnery.
Richard Dunwoody and Pat Hughes also shared in a double - Aces And Eights winning the opening Lough Ree Maiden Hurdle despite travelling badly to the meeting and being upset and Cullenstown Lady recouping recent losses when taking the Carrolls Beginners Chase.
Fairy Song, fourth behind three British trained two year olds in the valuable but restricted Tattersalls Breeders Stakes at the Curragh on her previous appearance last month and not especially lucky in running, was entitled to win last evening's Glcnamaddy Fillies Maiden.
Away smartly, she made virtually all the running to beat the Jim Bolger trained debutante Acadelli, by four and a half lengths.
The first winner bred by her trainer, Charles O'Brien and owned by his father Vincent, the blinkered Fairy Song may now be prepared for the Birdcatcher Nursery at Naas on October 13th.
As the track was not wide enough to accommodate the customary number of stalls, this 13 runner, seven furlong event was started by flag. Winning rider John Murtagh thus drew level with Kevin Manning in the championship, each riding 61 winners.
Following 14 unsuccessful attempts this year I Remember It Well has run into form, winning twice at Kilbeggan and again last evening when taking the Villiger Handicap Hurdle. Improving on the inside before turning for home the Michael Hourigan trained filly jumped the last two in front and forged clear to beat Tara's Tribe and Slave Gale. She will reappear in a handicap hurdle at Listowel next week.
. Former jump jockey Vic Soane had his first winner as a trainer at Fontwell yesterday when Kalasadi (6 to 1) came home an easy winner under Jim Culloty.
The gelding led four out in the Strebel Boilers and Radiators Handicap Hurdle qualifier and was soon clear to win by 20 lengths from Circus Colours.
Soane, who rode 82 winners in his career, was with Fred Winter for 15 years and also rode as first jockey to David Barons and Verley Bewicke.
The rookie handler has had 10 runners on the Flat with four of them placed, and hopes to get off the mark on the level with Twin Creeks at Lingfield on Thursday.
Nahrawali was backed from 4 to 1 to 9 to, 4 favourite for the Arundel Selling Handicap Hurdle and his supporters collected when Charlie Moore's gelding led at the fifth and won pulling up by 13 lengths from Credit Controller.
After there was no bid for the winner at the auction, Moore said: "That was only Tony McCoy's second ride for me. He did better for me this time!"
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