Big week of local winners

Ray Hackett won the opening two mile six furlong mares maiden hurdle at Killarney on Monday week last with Littlebiggie.

Sent off at 7/2, the Siobhan Hogan owned seven-year-old made all the running to score by four and quarter lengths under Liam Quinlan.

Park The Giant provided owner Mike Neville with some compensation for a couple of near misses when getting his head in front in the following two mile four furlong maiden hurdle. Trained by Philip Fenton, the 7/2 chance ran out a half-length winner under Brian Hayes.

Rachael Blackmore was also amongst the winners on the card as Nas Na Riogh held on by the narrowest of margins when winning the two mile four furlong novice hurdle for Henry De Bromhead. Sent off 5/2 joint-favourite, the Charlie Doocey owned six-year-old had a nose to spare at the finish.

Donnacha O'Brien continued his excellent start to the new season with Naval Force winning the one mile two furlong Median Auction Race at Roscommon on Monday. Sent off at 9/4, the Gavin Ryan partnered gelding won by half a length for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners.

Amy Jo Hayes won the one mile four furlong apprentice handicap on the same card on Jabbar for trainer Gerard O'Leary. The gelding led under two furlongs out, keeping on well to register a half-length success at 6/1 for owners Lance Bloodstock Limited.

Ben Coen won the one mile maiden at Killarney on Tuesday aboard Thor's Hammer. Owned by Newtown Anner Stud Farm, the Johnny Murtagh trained 11/10f led over a furlong out, before keeping on strongly to beat Babich a head.

Joseph Murphy has group race plans for Alpheratz, winner of the one mile fillies race on that same card. The Gerard Kervick owned odds-on favourite broke well and made most under Gary Carroll to prevail by a neck from Uluru.

Trainer Andrew Slattery and his son of the same name teamed up to easily win the one mile handicap with Passionate. The Eimear O'Brien owned filly, sent off at 9/2, led over two furlongs out, asserting close home to win by six lengths.

Denis Hogan and Joey Sheridan were on the mark at Sligo on Wednesday with Land Lover in the six furlong handicap. Carrying the colours of the Enduring Love Syndicate, the 9/2 chance made most to record a three-quarter length victory.

Ben Coen was also amongst the winners, riding Castleheath to win the one mile four furlong maiden for Ciaran Murphy. The Niall Slevin owned colt had to work hard to land odds of 15/2 by a nose.

Wayne Hassett paid a visit to the winners' enclosure after riding Carlo Bianconi to victory in the one mile two furlong handicap for Joseph O'Brien. Owned by Kevin Blake, the 16/5f stayed on strongly to win by one and a quarter lengths.

Eamonn O'Connell trained 13/2 chance The Niffler to win the two mile handicap hurdle at Tipperary on Wednesday. Ridden by Keith Donoghue, the Kenneth James Mullen owned seven-year-old showed plenty of determination to register a narrow neck win over Red Glory.

Liam Quinlan rode 7/1 chance Toor Khov to win the three mile maiden hurdle on the card. Trained by Margaret Flynn, the James Nash owned gelding showed plenty of stamina to win by one and a quarter lengths from Pray Tell.

Alabama Calling struck for David Marnane in the 7f Fillies Maiden at Limerick on Thursday. Owned by MRC International, the 7/1 chance made the most of her previous experience to score by half-a-length under Luke McAteer.

Henry De Bromhead's Tideways Hero benefited from an excellent Rachael Blackmore ride to land the two mile three furlong handicap hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday. The Niall O'Leary owned mare led two out before staying on to justify 10/3 joint-favourite by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

The Aidan O'Brien trained Kyprios justified 1/12 favouritism when taking the featured Group 3 one mile six-furlong Savel Beg Stakes at Leopardstown on Friday. The Ryan Moore partnered colt stayed on strongly to prevail by a length from stablemate Queenstown.

Donnacha O'Brien and Gavin Ryan continued a good week when taking the closing one mile two furlong maiden at Navan on Saturday. Their 11/2 chance Lady Doris only just did enough, keeping on well to win by a head for owner Treasa O'Loughlin.

Adam Ryan partnered the Jonathan Sweeney trained newcomer Divaboriva to land a gamble in the concluding two mile mares bumper at Wexford. Backed from 50/1 overnight, the John Hosford owned and bred filly won by two and a half lengths at odds of 16/5.

Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore won the first three races at Naas on Sunday. Treasure Isle was first off the mark when making all to win the opening 5f race. The 8/13-fourite stayed on well inside the final furlong to win by half-a-length.

Aesop's Fable won his first race in two years when appreciating a drop in class to win the 5f Listed Stakes. The 11/4 chance stayed on well close home to beat Twilight Jet by a neck.

Fairy Godmother completed the treble when getting up close home to land odds of 6/5-favourite by a neck in the Group 3 5f Stakes.

Ben Coen and his boss Johnny Murtagh won the one mile three-year-old handicap with Chicago Critic. The 7/1 chance stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to win by three-quarters-of-a-length for owners Sam Mencoff and Tony Smurfit.

Joey Sheridan was also amongst the winners on the card, delivering the Brian Duffy trained Plume Noire from off the pace to win the one mile handicap. The 9/1 chance, who is owned by Frank Duffy, stayed on well to win by one-and-a-half lengths from Desert Haven.

Upcoming Meetings

Limerick – Thursday, May 23 (First Race 5.25pm)

Curragh – Friday, May 24 (First Race 4.50pm)

Downpatrick – Friday, May 24 (First Race 5.10pm)

Curragh – Saturday, May 25 (First Race 1.20pm)

Curragh – Sunday, May 26 (First Race 1.20pm)