Timote to fly home

With four Cork winners since the start of the season, Dermot Weld has taken over top spot among the course trainers from Jim Bolger.

Weld's Timote, winner of three successive races last year, one of them here, can herself start her new campaign by taking the Dairygold Cork Sprint Stakes.

Although just a Listed race, the 10 runners, including several Group winners. should offer one of the most competitive six-furlong events ever run in the county.

On her second last start Timote had been beaten a length by Tedburrow in the Flying Five at Leopardstown and she then took her chance in the Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp.

She was really getting into the argument outside the distance when she had to be snatched up and finished seventh to the Japanese raider Agnes World. A picture of the finish shows that she was was only two lengths out of a place.

Earlier in the summer Rossini had himself brought his winning sequence to four by defeating a subsequent German Group winning two-year-old Auenklang by five lengths in the Group Two Prix Robert Papin. However, a combination of a penalty and the filly's sex allowance means that Rossini will be meeting the year older Timote at level weights.

Bandon Valley is trained in Co Cork by Eugene Sullivan and with Philip Carberry's 3lb claim, will be carrying a postage stamp impost in the Dairygold Handicap Chase. He set the pace in a Listowel handicap hurdle and was still in front when he fell three out. Earlier in the year he won a handicap hurdle at Thurles, successfully conceding weight to Knockrigg.

John Bowles saddled his first double in Ireland when Rahanine Native and Drewstown Lady were successful at a low-key Punchestown on Saturday.

Rahanine Native led between the final two flights in the Carnalway Handicap Hurdle under Shane Ryder and just held the persistent challenge of It's Sharing by a short head.

Bowles, who had "a double in Britain along time ago", followed up in the following Kilcullen EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle when the Garrett Cotter-ridden Drewstown Lady made steady headway to lead before the last for a length success over Royal Jake.

"He likes the hard ground," said trainer Michael Cunningham after Royal Barathea edged out McCracken in an exciting finish to the opening Blessington Maiden Hurdle. "He will mix it between hurdles and Flat over the summer, and the Galway Hurdle could be a possible target," added the Meath trainer.