Colm O'Donoghue and John Cullen both enjoyed a fine evening in the saddle at Clonmel yesterday as they both recorded doubles on a beautiful evening at the Co. Tipperary venue.
O Donoghue rode a 164/1 double in the first and third races with his opening winner coming aboard Temptation Island in the Slievenamon Maiden, when Matty Tynan's charge stayed on well to collar Christavelli inside the final furlong.
An hour later, O Donoghue returned to the winner's enclosure in the June Handicap when Grand Madam (14/1) finished with a great flourish to head Peruvian Athlete in the final 100 yards.
Cullen opened his account for the evening when the former Triumph Hurdle runner-up and injury plagued City Hall recorded his first win in five years in the Beginners Chase, while he completed his double aboard Mossland in the Glanbia Maiden Hurdle. The latter owes the distinction of being Joe Crowley's first winner as a public trainer since he took out his licence on June 5th.
Joanna Morgan and Pat Cosgrave had their second winner in as many days when Dbest (7/4-5/2) took the Suir Handicap despite veering across the track in the final furlong. 'Pat said he hung right from when he jumped out and I would say that he was probably a bit free. I thought we were beaten', explained the winning trainer.
Niall Madden will have his claim reduced to 5lb's from Monday, after the Noel Meade-trained Hawaiin Son took the first division of the Nore Valley Flat Race. 'I was disappointed with his last run at Down Royal and decided to give him a break after that,' said Meade afterwards.
The second division of the Bumper went to the David Wachman-trained and Karl Wyse-ridden The Posh Paddy.
Elsewhere, the William Hayes-trained Bid Me Again took the Comeragh Handicap Hurdle under Adrian O'Shea.
