CREPELLO - John Ryan lights up Sligo with fabulous four-timer

John Ryan's horses seem to enjoy the western air as he has found both Ballinrobe and Sligo happy hunting grounds this season.

The latter venue was his port of call on Wednesday last when he rattled off a fabulous four-timer to put him on 29 winners so far this term, which is one short of double the amount he achieved last year.

The trainer stated his intentions early on when he saddled Kitty Galore to take the opening two mile and a furlong mares beginners chase.

With Sean O'Keeffe in the plate, the seven-year-old made every yard of the running and in spite of being untidy three fences out, had enough in reserve to defeat the Henry de Bromhead trained She Tops The Lot by a length and a half, with the odds-on favourite The Sliding Rock a further fourteen lengths back in third place after an unhappy round of jumping.

Bred by Mark Molloy at Crossogue Stud near Ballycahill, the winner was scoring for the second time after opening her account at Limerick last October.

Rippon Lodge and Philip Donovan were next up for Ryan in the extended two mile and a furlong handicap chase and the combination ran out comfortable winners.

Settled towards the rear of the field, the eight-year-old improved to be on the tail of the leaders with a circuit to race. At this point, Alice Avril held a healthy advantage, however, Rippon Lodge gradually reeled him in before jumping the last in front and running all the way to the line where he had five and a half lengths to spare over the hot favourite Bentham.

Now a three-time winner for the Bit View Partnership, Rippon Lodge is a fine, big, strapping individual and according to Ryan needed every day of it to come to himself. The result was a significant milestone for Donovan as he had his 7lb claim reduced to 5lb. He is a fine young rider and enjoys plenty of support from trainers up and down then country.

Grange Walk, under a stylish Bryan Cooper ride, comfortably landed the two mile and a furlong handicap chase to make it three wins in the first three races on the card for Ryan.

Settled towards the rear of the field, the Edward Gleeson owned and bred gelding moved closer to the leaders starting the final circuit before hitting the front after the second last fence and found plenty to take the money by two and threequarter lengths from Optical Confusion.

It must be said that the winners task was eased by the falls of Benefit Run and Ingleby Mackenzie at the last but at that stage he still looked the likely winner.

In his post race remarks, John Ryan revealed that the sky is the limit for his charge. At this stage of his career he looks well above handicap class and could make his mark in some of the good novice chases in the coming months.

The Kutb gelding Father Jed made it a day to remember for Ryan when he gained a somewhat fortuitous victory in the concluding three mile 0-95 handicap chase.

Once again rider Sean O'Keeffe joined forces with Ryan as he brought the ten-year-old from well off the pace to be in contention rising the the final fence where the complexion of the race changed completely. Odds-on favourite Favori Logique looked to have the race in safe keeping when he clipped the top of the fence and came a cropper, leaving Father Jed in splendid isolation which he maintained all the way to the line for an eight length success over Court Adjourned.

Stack on the mark at Naas

Fozzy Stack was among the winners at Naas on Thursday when Red Lancewing captured the five furlong juvenile maiden in the hands of Andrew Slattery.

A good looking daughter of No Nay Never, she attracted plenty of support but she has to be brave when she was caught in a pocket on the rails and had to fight her corner before getting a run well inside the last furlong before getting up close home to defeat the Aidan O'Brien trained New York City by a head.

In his post race reflections, Stack revealed that twenty years previously the fillies dam, the dual Group 1 placed Mala Mala, won her maiden at this venue. Red Lancewing is her last foal and is the tenth winner out of the mare. Stack sees her as a sprinter for next season and she may have one more outing before going into winter quarters.

Jessica Harrington has left an indelible mark on the training scene since taking out a flat licence some years ago and she reached a career beat of seventy winners for the season when Sablonne landed the two-year-old fillies maiden over a trip just short of six furlongs.

This was one of three winners for Ms Harrington at the meeting where Bellabel took the mile Nursery and Eurocrat landed the seven furlong two-year-old maiden.

Elliott and Russell back with a bang

Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell returned to action after spending some time on the sidelines for different reasons. Elliott returned with a winner at Sligo and followed up with a three-timer at his local Navan track on Saturday, while Russell got a huge reception on returning to the winners enclosure after Chemical Energy turned the two mile and four maiden hurdle into a procession.

Trained by his friend and ally Gordon Elliott, the son of Well Chosen was an odds-on favourite and it must be said that he won like a hot pot should. Always close to the pace, Chemical Energy took over at the second last flight and went right away to win very much as liked by eleven lengths from Fancy A Cosmo.

Humbled by the reception accorded to him, Russell revealed that it's onwards and upwards from here in a bid to make up for lost time.

Ray Hackett was also among the winners when Rock On Shamie finished strongly to land the two mile 0-123 handicap hurdle under a stylish Aine O'Connor ride.

An easy to back favourite, Rock On Shamie was always up with the pace before taking over after the last fight and finding plenty to defeat Nibiru by half am length.

Hackett was singing the praises of Ms O'Connor post race saying that her 5lb allowance is invaluable in this type of race and she uses her head to great effect. This was the first win over hurdles for the son of Lilbourne Lad to add to his three on the level and on this evidence he can be placed to further success.