Denis O'Regan has certainly experienced the ups and downs of the game in the past week. The Co. Cork native rode his fifth winner in that period on Hickory Hill in the novice hurdle.
Falls from Foreign Seas, Major Jon and a particularly heavy spill from the ill-fated Geill Sli at Tralee on Tuesday have also occurred in the past seven days.
Teaming up with the James Motherway-trained 5/2 chance in the 3-runner centrepiece, O'Regan got to the front at the last and went on to outpoint 4/6 favourite, Connaught Hall by 1/2L.
That defeat for the market-leader was quickly put behind supporters of the Willie Mullins yard as the Closutton handler sent out Illi to win the following 45 to 60 h'cap.
By Mull Of Kintyre, sire of top 3yo Araafa, this grey filly vindicated the promise of a course and distance fourth-placing sixteen days ago in the hands of Davy Condon.
The start of this contest was delayed for more than 10 minutes as Silvergrove and Fran Berry parted company on the way to post.
Berry was left with a bleeding nose and a cut chin and he will have to pass the doctor in order to ride tomorrow.
Four years on from his St James's Palace Stakes success, Rock Of Gibraltar sired his second winner in Ireland from his first crop when Malacara landed the opener.
Following on from Yeats' brilliant Gold Cup win at Ascot, this Ballydoyle newcomer took the lead close home under Seamie Heffernan to deny Ahoy (also in the Michael Tabor silks) by a neck.
City Of Tribes, Ger Lyons' first runner away from home may have found the competition in the Norfolk Stakes too hot , but Lyons remains well on course to better his score of 30 in 2005.
Global Wings (available at 15/8 in the morning) proved very popular with punters and the daughter of In The Wings justified the confidence in the 3 and 4 year old maiden.
Partnered by the in-form Declan McDonogh (4th winner in as many days), the 4/5 shot led a furlong out, staying on well under pressure to beat the first-timer, Velvet by 2L.
Strides Of Fire was nibbled-at to a much lesser extent in early trading (14/1 being taken). On his third outing for Eoin Doyle he defied top-weight in the h'cap hurdle.
Formerly handled by John Codd, this half-brother to Queen's Logic (brilliant unbeaten filly of 2001 & 2002), returned to his best to defeat Tubber Gael Holly by 6L.
A E70,000 purchase at last year's Goffs Autumn Sales, the ex-Dermot Weld-trained Jubilant Note, a half-brother to Jazz Beat (US Grade 1-placed) took the maiden hurdle for Mick Murphy.
Davy Russell led and quickened clear before two out on the Sadler's Wells-gelding before easily putting 10L between himself and Bernabeu.
Mark Slevin (19) from Enniscorthy rode his first winner on the track when the Joe Crowley-trained Tusa An Fear was successful in the bumper. He is a nephew of Aidan O'Brien's.
Slevin is a son of trainer Shay Slevin. Of course this makes him a cousin to Tom O'Brien, currently making waves as a recently turned professional in Britain.
