Declan Gillespie and his stable apprentice Michael Hussey combined for a 20/1 double with Travatore and Softly Softly at a rain-sodden Sligo yesterday evening.
Travatore and the gambled-on Magical Chant (8/1 to 5/1) dominated the finish of the Thomas Connolly Race, with the former just edging ahead in the closing stages.
Hussey, now on the 11 winner mark for the season, had a much easier time aboard Softly Softly in the Sherry Fitzgerald Draper Property Advisors Handicap. The daughter of Lucky Guest led over a furlong out, and galloped clear in the testing ground to beat Benfica by eight lengths.
Sandholes got punters off to a flying start when justifying strong support in the opening Drumcliffe Maiden Hurdle. The four-year-old filly successfully adopted forcing tactics under Paul Carberry, and had plenty in hand in the straight to beat Adari by an eased down seven lengths.
Carberry, who leads the National Hunt jockeys championship on the 22 winner mark, was also aboard the favourite in the following Club Orange Handicap Hurdle but Moll Hackabout had to settle for the runner-up spot behind Timmy`s Holly. The six-year-old gelding was sent to the front off the home turn by Jimmy Mansell, and soon stretched clear to score by 12 lengths. 'He deserved that as he has been knocking on the door for a long time,' said trainer Donie Hassett.
