Portobello scores

Down Royal has been kind to this season's leading rider Barry Geraghty, and yesterday he brought his seasonal score to 50 when winning on Portobello Lady in the EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Just three years ago in the same race, he opened his account when scoring on Noel Meade's Stagalier.

Geraghty's nearest pursuer in the championship race, Paul Carberry, is now nine behind after he came away with a double. Back to Bavaria, a dual winner on the flat, sparked off the Carberry brace when notching up her first win over jumps in the Millennium Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer John Bowles has the flat in mind again later this year for his mare, and said: "She definitely wants good ground."

Carberry had plenty of luck on his side with his second winner, Church Place, in the novice chase, for Sewitseams was several lengths in front and travelling like a winner when coming to grief at the third-last fence. His exit left Carberry and Church Place to come home unchallenged from Royal Marine.

Enniscorthy trainer Paul Nolan and amateur rider John Cullen made the five-hour trip worthwhile when they combined to complete a double, initiated by Change The Script in the handicap chase. The winner will head for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March and will be Cullen's first ride there.

Nolan and Cullen ended the afternoon with victory in the bumber with Ephony Lady, who justified favouritism at the expense of outsider Annabellerio.

British racing has paid tribute to Classic-winning jockey and successful trainer Frankie Durr who died on Tuesday at the age of 74.

His biggest victories came in the 2,000 Guineas on Mon Fils (in 1973) and Roland Gardens (1978) and the St Leger on Sodium (1966) and Peleid (1973).

Pat Smullen celebrated the third success of his current Hong Kong stint aboard Score (95-10) in the Tung Wah Divided Handicap at Sha Tin yesterday.

Robert Winston has been suspended for 19 days, four of them deferred, at a meeting of the disciplinary committee of the Jockey Club yesterday.