Co. Kilkenny permit holder Pat Tallis bridged a 21 year gap without a winner when Acorn Lodge and Seamus Heffernan took the Tote Ireland Handicap at Roscommon yesterday evening. The 5/1 favourite led approaching the furlong pole and kept on well to beat Lil Doyle by a head with Golden Pamela looking slightly unlucky back in third.
'That's my first winner as a trainer. I took out a permit in March and have three in at the moment. This filly has improved immensely this year and we always thought there was a race in her. She's quite versatile and can race from five to ten furlongs,' commented Tallis afterwards.
Christavelli gave Daniel O'Connell his first winner on the level when taking the opening Castlerea Maiden in fine style. Davy Condon, who was riding his tenth winner of the season, sent his mount into the lead entering the straight and they comfortably defeated Irish Verse by two lengths, while the favourite Certainly Brave was three-parts of a length back in third.
Harry Rogers is enjoying a fine run with his horses and Beau Cheval gave him another winner in the 0-80 handicap. Johnny Murtagh sent the 4/1chance to the front turning for home and they never looked in any danger from there. At the line there was two-and-a-half lengths back to Girl Wonder with Lucky Slipper third.
Killarney could be the next stop for Edward O'Grady's Symboli Bay after the 5/2 favourite ran out a three length winner of the Tote Jackpot Handicap Hurdle. Barry Geraghty's mount was in front some way from home and, at the line, had three lengths to spare over Talking Cents with a further two lengths to Castle Kevin in third.
Paul Roche and his brother, David, were on the mark in the Elphin Handicap Hurdle with 4/1 chance Silent Native. The Be My Native gelding had his rivals in trouble a long way from home and eventually triumphed by five lengths
'He's been in great order this year and we'll go to Galway for the Amateur Handicap Hurdle in Galway on the Friday evening. He got a bit of heat in his leg last year so we had him fired,' said Roche snr, whose brother was riding his tenth winner on the track.
Elsewhere, Fiddlers Bar and Ruby Walsh took the Ballaghaderreen Maiden Hurdle for trainer Lesley Young. The Un Desperado filly defeated the favourite Leading Springs by four and a half lengths with No Big Rush a further eight back in third.
