Tommy Treacy partnered his initial winner for Carlow handler Brian Nolan by guiding favourite Larkhill Jo to victory in the opening Grant Thornton Maiden Hurdle at Limerick yesterday and in all probability the victorious grey will contest a handicap at Cork next Saturday.
Treacy went onto complete a quick treble as he was on board the Tony Martin-trained Bizet, the comprehensive victor of the following Robert Butler Group Handicap Hurdle. In all probability, Bizet will go novice chasing in the new year.
Meanwhile, he later brought the Sue Bramall-trained Art Stones with a well-timed challenge to deny Gothic Lord in the Bank Of Ireland Handicap Chase.
The Edward O'Grady-trained Colonel Monroe had little difficulty in justifyin even money favouritism with Norman williamson from Moss Bawn in the Guinness Christmas Festival Hurdle and the Flor Mahony-owned winner will more than likely take his chance in the Sliabh Luchra Hurdle here on Sunday.
Alan Donoghue is riding with terrific confidence at present and the 9-year-old partnered his ninth career winner when bringing home Eamonn 'Dusty' Sheehy's Quarry Boy an authoritative winner of the Adare Manor Handicap Hurdle.
Graignamanagh-based Sheehy went on to post a double as Princess Symphony routed the opposition with Barry Cash in the European Breeders Fund Tattersalls (IRE) Mares Beginners Chase. Owned by New Ross publican Donal Whelan, Princess Symphony will now be aimed at some of the staying novice chases.
The Pat Fahy-trained My Native Donegal mastered Four By Two inside the final furlong to triumph by three lengths in the closing Goggin-Buckley Engineering (Pro-Am) Flat Race under Peter Fahey.
