Not Clever, trained by Frank Berry and carrying the colours of Gerry McManus, brother of JP, justified favouritism in the Strandhill Maiden Hurdle at Sligo last night, thus providing Ray Hogan (18) with a welcome change of luck.
Hogan suffered a broken leg when schooling after racing at Leopardstown on March 2nd and only returned to race-riding three weeks ago. After the five-year-old out-battled market rival Correal Owl and Jason Titley by a length, Berry said: "He missed out on a few but battled on well for Ray. I suppose I'll find a handicap for him next."
Athy Spirit, winner of the GPT Amateur Handicap and Galway Hurdle in 1990, unshipped Jason Titley at the last after making a terrible blunder when throwing down a renewed effort, leaving the top-weight Benny The Bishop, trained by Cecil Ross and ridden by his nephew Anthony, to come home eight lengths clear of Greek Magic in the three-runner Heineken Sligo Handicap Chase.
Punters endured a tough evening when 20 to 1 chance Suzy Street stretched right away under Wayne Smith to land the Clevaragh Claiming Race. Winning trainer Pat Martin was pleasantly surprised: "To be honest, I didn't think she was fit enough to win tonight. I'll try to find a nursery for her somewhere," he said.
Cormac Lady, trained locally by Michael McElhone, returned to a rapturous reception in the winner's enclosure after scoring at 25 to 1 in the Royal Exchange Pub Handicap under Shane Kelly.
Smith completed a double in the Heineken Handicap when he conjured up a winning effort on the Dermot Kelly-trained Shahnaad who beat Mountain Rocket. The runner-up was bidding to follow up on his Wednesday evening success under a 5lb penalty for Stephen Craine.
Celestrial Choir averted retirement when recapturing her best form to win at Pontefract yesterday. The seven-year-old, trained by Les Eyre, kept on strongly under Ollie Pears to beat Tessajoe two lengths in a competitive race for the Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel Handicap.
An emotional Eyre said: "She'd not been her old self in her recent runs and I told the owners that if it happened again she'd go to the brood mare sale in November. But she's come backand will now go for the race she won last year at York, the Knavesmire Handicap."
Another horse bound for York is Top Of The Form who continued Richard Fahey's good run when burning off her rivals in the August Claiming Stakes.
