Top week for Tipperary jockeys and trainers with success across the country

The great run of form being enjoyed by Tipperary jockey and trainers continued again over recent days.

Both trainer Tim Doyle and rookie apprentice Wayne Hassett continued in top form at Galway on Bank Holiday Monday where Kinda Tiny landed the seven-furlong handicap.

Owned and bred by the trainer’s wife Claire, the three-year-old was sent off at odds of 5/1 co-favourite and she led close to the finish to beat the Mark Fahey-trained Clear Quartz by three-parts of a length to give the Burnchurch apprentice his 16th success of the season.

Aidan O'Brien got that afternoon off to a winning start as 9/2 chance Everlasting took the eight-furlong fillies’ maiden under Seamie Heffernan. She made much of the running to score by a length and three-parts from Kisiyra, ridden for Johnny Murtagh by Ben Coen.

Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll won the 12-furlong handicap with the Gerard Kervick-owned Immutable. The consistent three-year-old defied to weight to gain his second success of the season and his third overall with a one-length victory at odds of 100/30 over Harry Rogers’ 9/4 favourite Narlita.

The run of Tipp success continued on Tuesday as local trainer Padraig Roche gave high-flying apprentice Wayne Hassett his 17th winner of the season as Thiscommonknowledge ran away with the eight-furlong nursey handicap at the Curragh.

In the colours of the All Rogues Have Friends Syndicates, the 100/30 chance led inside the final furlong to beat the Jessica Harrington-trained Mo Ghille Mar by four lengths. Seamie Heffernan added his success at Galway on Bank Holiday Monday as he won the opening six-furlong maiden for two-year-olds at the Curragh on Tuesday on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Samuel Colt.

Leading at the furlong-pole, the 5/2 chance eased clear to score by four and a half lengths from the Fozzy Stack-trained Eclipse Emerald.

It was far tighter in the 10-furlong handicap where Tim Doyle’s Alfalfa, the Wayne Hassett-ridden 7/2 favourite, got the better of the Johnny Murtagh-trained Kermiya and Ben Coen by a neck.

However, the placings were reversed after a stewards’ enquiry after it was found that the first past the post had carried the locally-trained runner to her left inside the final furlong.

At Dundalk on Wednesday, Aidan O'Brien and Seamie Heffernan shared yet another winner. Heffernan completed a double on the day with success on 5/2 joint-favourite Greenfinch in the seven-furlong maiden.

The veteran jockey had earlier won the claiming race on the Eric McNamara-trained Brains. Apprentice Sean Bowen took the second division of the seven-furlong handicap on the Philip Byrne-trained El Bello.

An 8/1 chance in the colours of the Premier Racing Club, the four-year-old headed the James McAuley-trained Pulse Of Shanghai inside the final furlong to win by half a length.

Trainer Martin Hassett won the opening beginners’ chase with Battle Of Ridgeway at Thurles on Thursday. Ridden by Brian Hayes, the 13/2 chance came from a little off the pace to lead after the second-last fence and he had any amount in hand in beating the Eoin Doyle-trained Vocito, a 66/1 chance, by 11 lengths.

Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee were winners on the final all-weather card of the 2023 Flat season as Persian Jewel took the eight-furlong maiden in good style. An 8/11 favourite, the three-year-old hit the front with over a furlong to race and had two and a quarter lengths to spare over the Michael Halford & Tracey Collins-trained

Not forgotten, a 9/4 chance, at the line. Kevin Coleman and Joey Sheridan combined to win the first of three handicaps over the same distance with the five-year-old Benavente.

The 17/2 chance came from off the pace to lead well inside the final furlong to beat the Ross O'Sullivan-trained Dance Night Andday by half a length.

Coleman completed a double as Fleetfootsoldier took the second division of the eight-furlong handicap under County Limerick apprentice Calum Hogan. Owned by the Square Bar Racing Club, the 13/2 shot led close to the finish to beat Tim Doyle’s Pink Socks by three-parts of a length.

Wayne Hassett rounded off the 2023 Flat season in fine style with a closing day double at the Curragh on Sunday to bring his tally for the term to 19 winners.

He started the meeting with a three and three-parts of a length win in the eight-furlong maiden for two-year-olds on the Joseph O'Brien-trained 7/2 chance Kolachi which beat Aidan O'Brien’s 6/4 favourite Autumn Winter with plenty in hand.

It was easier again for Hassett as he took the seven-furlong handicap on the Denis Cullen-trained Zephron. The Colm White-owned 13/2 chance stormed to a six-length success over the Michael Grassick-trained 4/1 favourite Blue Peak.

Seamie Heffernan rounded off a great weekend for Aidan O'Brien as he won the 12-furlong maiden on 4/6 favourite Queenstown. In a tight finish, she held on to beat Ger Lyons’ Neptunes Staircase by a nose.

Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead were winners late on the card at Cork on Sunday where 5/1 chance Como Park defied top-weight to take the concluding two and a half-mile handicap hurdle.

Owned by the Nameless & Shameless Partnership, the four-year-old battled well to pip the Eoin McCarthy-trained Tomjackwilliam by a head.

Upcoming Fixtures

Fairyhouse – Tuesday, November 7 (First Race 11.53am)

Dundalk – Wednesday, November 8 (First Race 1.25pm)

Clonmel – Thursday, November 9 (First Race 12.30pm)

Down Royal – Friday, November 10 (First Race 12.40pm)

Dundalk – Friday, November 10 (First Race 5.15pm)

Down Royal – Saturday, November 11 (First Race 12.30pm)

Gowran Park – Saturday, November 11 (First Race 12.20pm)

Naas – Sunday, November 12 (First Race 11.40am)