Doubles for Hogan and Slattery

Denis Hogan was on the mark with Thecompanysergeant in the opening two-mile maiden hurdle at Navan last Monday week. With Donagh Meyler riding in owner Martin Cooney’s colours, the six-year-old made much of the running and battled well to see off the sustained challenge of the Gordon Elliott-trained Smooth Player by three-parts of a length.

Rachael Blackmore played her part when taking the two-mile six-furlong novice hurdle on the Henry de Bromhead-trained favourite Senior Chief. The six-year-old scored by half a length from the Gordon Elliott-trained Landrake in the colours of the Lucky In Life Syndicate.

Denis Hogan made it two winners in as many days as the Daniel King-ridden Bal De Rio landed the opening claiming hurdle at Clonmel on Tuesday. The well-supported 9/2 chance led after the final hurdle to beat the Gordon Elliott-trained Boothen Boy and Denis O'Regan by a length.

Rachael Blackmore rode her first winner for Curragh trainer James Nash as Snapius took the opening maiden hurdle at Cork on Thursday. In the colours of the Fiveohclock Syndicate, the four-year-old battled well to get the better of the Gordon Elliott-trained favourite Calico by half a length.

Burren Song scored for the father and son team of Andy & Andrew Slattery when taking the 10-furlong handicap at Dundalk on Friday. It was tight at the line as the 11/2 chance held off the determined challenge of the John Nallen-trained Cristal Clere by just a shorthead in the colours of Patrick McNamara.

The young jockey was back in the winners’ enclosure as the David Marnane-trained Amemri took the seven-furlong handicap at odds of 40/1. A neck was the winning margin this time as the three-year-old got on top close to the finish to win from the Kevin Coleman-trained Fleetfootsoldier.

Joseph O'Brien landed a double on the opening day of the 2023 Flat season at the Curragh on Saturday and Shane Crosse completed the trainer’s brace with a comfortable success on Shadowed in the seven-furlong maiden. Owned by the EuroLindy Syndicate, the three-year-old raced up with the pace throughout and came home two and a quarter lengths to the good over the Michael Mulvany-trained Something Nice. O'Brien had earlier been a winner with the Dylan Browne McMonagle-ridden favourite Honey Girl.

Andy Slattery and his son Andrew were winners again at Naas on Sunday where Senado Square landed the five-furlong handicap. The three-year-old led inside the final furlong and was well on top at the line as he beat the Edward Lynam-trained Disco Bear by two lengths.

Fozzy Stack took the seven-furlong handicap with another favourite as Chazzesmee scored in equally convincing fashion under Mark Enright. The strong 11/8 chance was eased in the final strides as he beat the Jim Bolger-trained Vocal Studies by a length and three-parts in the colours of the trainer’s mother, Liz.

Paddington gave Aidan O'Brien his first success of the season when taking the Irish Racing Writers Carmel Kirwan And Loretta O’Hanlon Memorial Madrid Handicap by the same margin. Another successful favourite, the 6/4 chance led over a furlong from the finish to beat the Michael Mulvany-trained Duke Of Leggagh under Ryan Moore.

O'Brien also won the eight-furlong fillies’ maiden with Jackie Oh which was partnered by Seamie Heffernan. The 4/1 chance battled well to get the better of her own Ryan Moore-ridden stable companion and favourite Red Riding Hood by half a length.

Rachael Blackmore made it three winners for the week and she shared further success with Henry de Bromhead as Queen Jane landed the novice handicap chase in grand style at Limerick on Sunday. A 3/1 chance in the colours of Angus Potterton, she came from well off the pace to lead at the final fence and beat the Michael McDonagh-trained Battle Of Mirbat by four and three-parts of a length.

Upcoming Meetings

Navan – Wednesday, March 29 (First Race 2.15pm)

Limerick – Thursday, March 30 (First Race 1.40pm)

Naas – Thursday, March 30 (First Race 2.32pm)

Wexford – Friday, March 31 (First Race 4.40pm)

Dundalk – Friday, March 31 (First Race 5.30pm)

Bellewstown – Saturday, April 1 (First Race 1.20pm)

Downpatrick – Sunday, April 2 (First Race 1.40pm)

Leopardstown – Sunday, April 2 (First Race 2.00pm)