Last season's joint champion amateur Paul Moloney partnered his first winner since New Year's Day when Bannow Bay overcame very testing conditions to land a gamble in the Tipperary Maiden Hurdle (Div 11) at Clonmel today.
The Christy Roche-trained gelding - backed from 3 to 1 down to 7 to 4 favouritism - headed The Cree River approaching the final flight and was pushed out on the run-in for a two length success. Moloney will travel to Newcastle on Saturday to partner the Jessica Harrington-trained Market Lass in the £50,000 Tote Northern National.
Philip Fenton, who shared the amateur title last term with Moloney, landed the first division with the 6 to 1 on chance Endless Magic. However, Edward O'Grady's charge needed to be driven right out from the last to deny Ballygarvan by two and a half lengths. The placings remained unaltered after a stewards' inquiry into interference in the closing stages.
The largest field of the day lined up in the Clonmel (Ladies) Handicap Hurdle and well-backed favourite Native Rosie readily defied a 14lb rise in the ratings for scoring over course and distance a fortnight ago. The six-year-old mare travelled strongly under Mary Horgan to lead off the home turn, and kept on well to hold the staying on Technohead by two lengths.
A delighted Horgan said afterwards: 'I have ridden five winners in point-to-points, all at Kinsale, but that is my first on the track. It is very disheartening not getting the chances but that kind of race gives you the heart to keep going.'
Tony McCoy was left one short of reaching his double century of winners for the season after riding a double at Taunton yesterday.
The champion jockey has five booked rides at Sandown Park today and one victory will see him break his own record for the quickest 200 set on February 28th, 1998.
McCoy got off the mark for the day aboard the Martin Pipetrained Valiramix in division one of the Living With Cancer Appeal Maiden Hurdle.
And McCoy moved to the 199mark aboard Pipe's Spring Saint, who defied top-weight in the Cancerbacup News Handicap Chase.
His rides today are: Mr Cool (1.45), New Inn (2.20), Perugino Diamond (2.50), Montroe (3.25) and Peerless (5.00).
