On the day when Hawk Wing was retired due to injury, his regular partner Michael Kinane moved onto the 64 winner mark at the head of the jockeys' championship by recording a 12/1 double on Castledale and Sheer Tenby.
Castledale was all the rage (4/1 to 3/1 favourite) in the nursery, and the top-weight justified the confidence under a positive ride. The David Wachman-trained colt was close to the pace throughout, and kept on under pressure for a hard-earned half length victory over Granted Wish.
Kinane followed up when Sheer Tenby made all in the mile handicap. The six-year-old gelding stepped up on recent form when staying on gamely in front to deny Definite Best by a length, and trainer Paul Roche commented, 'It's a while since he won and he's come down a bit in the handicap. He's had some leg problems and, if he comes out of this okay, we may try again soon.'
Joe Murphy saddled his first winner of the season when Capabel caused a major shock in the opening two-year-old maiden. Fran Berry's mount made all in this seven furlongs event, and stayed on gamely to just hold off the well-backed favourite Anchor (4/9-4/11) by a short-head. 'Alot of the thanks goes to Kieran Gaule for this win, and I hope there is more improvement to come from him,' said Murphy, who has in ten in training near Fethard.
Diplomatic Gamble, placed on her previous two outings, opened her account when also prominent throughout in the mile fillies maiden. Pat Smullen sent her to the front inside the final quarter mile, and she quickened clear in the final furlong to beat Coco Palm by two lengths.
In Theory notched up his second win in the space of four days when stretching clear under Pat Cosgrave from the furlong pole to beat the flattering Avec Plaisir by two lengths in the apprentice handicap. 'He was a bit stiff and sore after Cork on Sunday but does love that fast ground. We may have a try at hurdles before the ground gets soft again,' said trainer Ger Lyons.
Jerry O'Dwyer recorded his sixth winner of the season when successfully deputising for Rachel Costello aboard Rashay in the mile and a half handicap. 'Rachel could be out for a week or two after injuring her ankle and knee in a fall yesterday morning,' said trainer Michael Halford before adding, 'This horse has now won ten times for us and is as tough and honest as they come. I can rely on him as much as any horse in the stable.'
Alan Magee
