Another for Gilligan as Roving scores

Paul Gilligan's horses have clearly come back to form as he recorded his second winner of the new season as Roving Lad (9/1) took division one of the Limerick GAA Handicap Hurdle under Andrew Lynch.

Gilligan ended a barren spell of eight months when Wellforth scored at Cork last month while Churchfield Champ then provided the Craughwell, Co Galway trainer with his first winner of the season at Sligo two weeks ago today.

After running a big race to finish second to Pat Garrett at Sligo in a maiden hurdle, the 5yo son of Vinnie Roe was having his first start in handicap company this afternoon. I Never Knew That attempt to make all as Roving Lad settle in mid-division early on.

He then made progress from the third last and was travelling smoothly in third when I Never Knew That made a bad mistake at the second last.

Congomen and the winner swept through to dispute the lead before Roving Lad hit the front just before the last and asserted on the run-in to score by two and a half lengths. Aviatore for David Finn and Martin Ferris stayed on strongly after the last to take second at 25/1 while Congomen was half a length back in third at 20/1 under Tony Kelly for Val O’Brien. Moving On was a further length and three parts back in fourth at 8/1 under Adrian Heskin.

Paul Gilligan said afterwards: "He might run at Sligo now on Wednesday evening where he will have a six pound penalty. It’s grand to be getting back with winners. My horses were awful sick last year."

Donal Murphy & Thomas Weekes