Trainer Michael Halford recorded a double at Tralee today, completing an across-the-card treble, following Miss Ailbe's earlier win in a mares maiden hurdle at Downpatrick.
Jockey Johnny Murtagh partnered Halford's first Tralee winner and moved onto the 58 winner mark for the season (five behind Declan McDonogh at the head of the Jockeys' Championship) when Eastern Appeal won the nutsaboutwine.ie & castleofflicence.ie Handicap.
The daughter of Shinko Forest chased the leaders, and although short of room early in the straight, quickened to lead close home for a length win over Quicksharp.
Halford later reported 'Eastern Appeal loved the ease and the ground and we might have come up against a good filly last time although the ground was a bit quick too.'
An hour later, Halford's Maxxium landed the feature event, the E37,000 Brandon Hotel Handicap Hurdle, under on-fire Paddy Flood.
Afterwards Halford revealed 'Maxxium had tie-forward operation before he ran at Galway and it seems to have helped.'
He added 'things happened a bit too quickly at Galway while the ground was a bit quick too; he handles soft ground much better.'
Robert Egan, 23 from Ballymun, partnered his fifth winner when riding George Kingston's Hit The Target to make virtually all in the Ballybeggan Racegoers Club Handicap.
Drogheda based Kingston later reported 'I really fancied her today as she had been working very well and was up only 3lbs for winning at Clonmel. In my opinion, Robert is probably the best 7lb claimer in the country.'
Champion Trainer Aidan O'Brien and jockey Kieren Fallon combined to record doubles, opening with Nell Gwyn, in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
The daughter of Danehill, showed the benefit of a recent Curragh outing, racing prominently before moving through to lead a furlong out, eventually staying on well for an easy length and a half win over dead-heaters Lady Shanghai and Potion.
O'Brien's second winner came when Kushnarekovo, a 97 rated daughter of Sadler's Wells, landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Harry Rogers' Rocking Annie ran out the game winner of the North's Real Estate Alliance Handicap Chase, under Robbie Power.
Rogers later mentioned 'Rocking Annie should win another chase while Robbie did exactly what he was told and is a good rider.'
