Niall McCullagh stole the limelight at this six race evening fixture when partnering his first ever treble in Ireland at the cumulative odds of 49/1.
Local handler Robbie Osborne supplied McCullagh's first success when Hadath led a furlong out and held on by a neck from Nick The Butler. 'I'm really enjoying training this horse as you need to keep doing something different with him to get his mind right. Hopefully we can find a handicap for him over the Derby weekend at the Curragh,' said Osborne.
McCullagh also landed both divisions of the EBF Fillies Maiden with Madame Cerito and La Pieta. Madame Cerito stretched clear in the final furlong to beat Irish Style by three-and-a-half-lengths, and trainer Michael Grassick commented, 'That mile is probably her best trip, and I will now find a Listed race for fillies.'
La Pieta will also be looking for some black type after drawing clear inside the final furlong to beat Perfect Touch by two lengths in division two.
Miss Emma heads next for the e130,000 Goffs Challenge at the Curragh on June 28 after landing a touch in division one of the Owenstown Stud F.F. Tuthill Maiden. Jerry O'Dwyer partnered his first winner of the season, and 12th in total, when producing the Key Of Luck filly with a well-timed challenge to collar Encircle in the final strides.
'I thought she had improved from her first run, although she was held up with a head cold a few weeks ago, and should come on again from this. We will take our chance now in the Goffs Challenge,' said trainer Michael Halford.
The market also proved a good guide in division two of the juvenile maiden where Chappel Cresent made a winning debut under Fran Berry. Ger Keane's charge, supported from 12/1 to 7/1, asserted inside the final furlong to beat Dixie Evans by two lengths. 'He's always showed us plenty at home, but has been held up with sore shins,' said Keane, who has saddled 11 winners under both codes since the start of the year.
National Hunt jockey Willie Slattery made a rare appearance on the Flat aboard Like A Dream in the Kilcullen Handicap, and she duly obliged when patiently ridden to lead over a furlong out for a diminishing head verdict over Grisham.
'My first ever winner was on the Flat about 16 years ago, but I haven't had one on the Flat since,' said Slattery, while successful permit holder Matty Tynan was also surprised saying, 'I wasn't expecting her to win, but am delighted for Willie as he does a lot of work for me at home.'
Alan Magee
