Crosse nearing the century of winners

Trainer Philip Fenton landed the handicap chase at Tipperary on Monday where Good As Hell scored a fortunate success in the colours of owner James Moran.

A well-supported 9/2 shot, the seven-year-old was left in the lead when the Seamus Braddish-trained Good Bye Milan came down at the final fence and he ran on to beat the Philip Rothwell-trained Union Park by two and three-parts of a length under Brian Hayes.

There was a tight finish to the opening two-year-old median auction maiden at Navan on Wednesday where the Willie McCreery-trained Lovejoy held off Jessica Harrington’s Lan Cinnte to win under Nathan Crosse. To the despair of punters, the 12/1 chance, in McCreery’s own colours, prevailed by a head from the well-backed Shane Foley-ridden favourite.

It was a little easier for Ben Coen who was next into the winners’ enclosure as Johnny Murtagh’s Mile End took the nursery handicap. The 6/1 shot raced clear inside the final furlong to beat the Andy Slattery-trained Lazer Point by two and a half lengths.

Coen and Murtagh were on the mark for a second time as Maristella, owned and bred by Ballylinch Stud, took the fillies and mares’ handicap. Leading in the dying strides, the 9/4 joint-favourite pipped the James McAuley-trained Prioritise by a shorthead.

Denis Hogan won the apprentice handicap with the Choi Fook Racing Syndicate-owned Conversant. A 13/2 shot under Daniel King, the seven-year-old held off the challenge of the Edward Lynam-trained Linus Larrabee to win by half a length.

Aidan O'Brien and Wayne Lordan landed the eight-furlong two-year-old maiden with favourite Salt Lake City which ran out the easiest winner of the day. He was clear from the two-furlong pole and beat Noel Meade’s Dutch Gold by five lengths.

Nathan Crosse enjoyed a most significant success as 40/1 outsider Three Counties scored a narrow success in the two-mile handicap at Thurles on Thursday. The Cahir man rode out his claim with the winner and he brought the six-year-old came from well off the pace and to get the better of Sheila Lavery’s Majestic Jewel by a shorthead. It was a 95th career victory for Crosse who rode his first winner on the Willie McCreery-trained Elm Grove at Cork in early April, 2017.

Dragon Roll took the second division of the apprentice handicap for Cullen trainer Eamonn O’Connell at Dundalk on Friday. Mikey Sheehy was in the saddled as the 7/1 shot came through to lead late on and beat Andy Slattery’s Khafaaq by a length and a quarter.

Aidan O'Brien’s sole success at the Curragh on Saturday came in the opening nine-furlong maiden for two-year-old’s which went the way of his Hippodrome. A strong 5/2 favourite, he got to the front under Seamie Heffernan at the two-furlong pole and made the best of his way home to win by half a length from the Joseph O'Brien-trained Harsh.

Trainer Pat Murphy won the five-furlong handicap with the J&J Racing Partnership-owned Craft Irish. Ridden by Jake Coen, the 13/2 shot led over a furlong from the finish and had a length and a half to spare over Sarah Lynam’s fast finisher Screen Siren.

Shane Crosse rode a winner for Lynam’s father Edward Heavenly Power took the concluding six-furlong handicap. A half-brother to Group 1 winner Slade Power, the Sabina Power-owned and bred four-year-old eased clear in the closing stages to win by two lengths from the Willie McCreery-trained Cnodian which was ridden by Shane’s brother Nathan.

Henry de Bromhead landed a 1-2 in the two-mile five-furlong beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday where the Rachael Blackmore-ridden Amirite scored a narrow success. The Patrick Hale-owned 6/4 chance just got the better of his Sean Flanagan-ridden front-running stable mate Secret She Keeps by a nose to add to a maiden hurdle win on his last start at Kilbeggan in April.

Upcoming Fixtures

Punchestown – Wednesday, October 12 (First Race 2.10pm)

Tramore – Thursday, October 13 (First Race 1.50pm)

Curragh – Thursday, October 13 (First Race 2.00pm)

Dundalk – Friday, October 14 (First Race 5.30pm)

Leopardstown – Saturday, October 15 (First Race 1.30pm)

Naas – Sunday, October 16 (First Race 1.10pm)

Cork – Sunday, October 16 (First Race 1.55pm)