First Double for Quirke

Cian Quirke notched up the first double of his fledgling career when riding winners for trainers Sean O'Brien and Sam Curling at Down Royal on Tuesday week last.

He rode his first winner at the course when partnering The Gradual Slope to take the rated novice hurdle. Trained for owner Mark McDonagh by O'Brien, the 7/2 chance led on the line to pip Eoin McCarthy’s Marelly by a nose with the Gavin Cromwell-trained Fameaftertheglory just a half a length away in third place.

It was slightly easier for the Thurles conditional jockey as Angels Dawn won the three-mile handicap chase at odds of 5/2 in the colours of owner/breeder Alfred Sweetnam. The eight-year-old arrived with a late challenge to get the better of the Gordon Elliott-trained Ballykeel by half a length.

Cian Quirke was again seen to great effect as he got the Michael Bowe-trained Maggie Walsh up on the line to win the two-mile three-furlong maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on Wednesday.

The 10/1 chance had it all to do jumping the final flight but she picked up well under the high-flying conditional jockey to pip the Gordon Elliott-trained favourite So Des Flos and Davy Russell by a nose.

Mouse Morris and owner/breeder Margaret Casey combined to win the two and a half-mile opportunity handicap hurdle with Bluebell Diva at Gowran Park on Thursday.

Ridden by Gavin Brouder, the favourite added to a success at Clonmel last month when leading at the second-last hurdle and battling well to beat the Eoin Doyle-trained Optional mix by two and a quarter lengths.

Thurles trainer Hilary McLoughlin gave Meath apprentice Adam Caffrey a second winner at Dundalk on Friday where Macadam’s Rock scored a one and a half-length success in the seven-furlong handicap.

The five-year-old readily got the better of the James McAuley-trained Ghumama, a second Dundalk double for Caffrey in the space of seven days.

Edward O'Grady landed the two-mile one-furlong handicap chase with the eleven-year-old Shakeytry at Fairyhouse on Saturday.

In the colours of the Glebeland Farm Partnership, the 8/1 shot added to his recent Naas success when getting the better of the Philip Rothwell-trained Union Park by three-parts of a length under Phillip Enright.

Upcoming Meetings

Dundalk – Wednesday, February 1

(First Race 1.42pm)

Dundalk – Friday, February 3

(First Race 4.30pm)

Leopardstown – Saturday, February 4

(First Race 1.20pm)

Leopardstown – Sunday, February 5

(First Race 1.10pm)