The Cian Quirke-ridden Answering jumps the final hurdle to win for Tim & Claire Doyle at Thurles on Saturday. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post

Tipperary Racing Scene

Three Tipperary trainers struck at Dundalk on Friday evening.

First on the mark was Willie Browne who landed the opening five-furlong handicap with the four-year-old Bilboa. In the colours of Tracey Kearney, the well-supported favourite reeled off a hat-trick of wins when holding the late challenge of Tom McCourt’s Inishmot Prince by a head in the hands of Declan McDonogh.

Carrick-On-Suir’s Kevin Coleman took the 10-furlong claiming race with 18/1 shot Victory Star. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan, who later made the headlines when announcing that he would be riding as a freelance jockey this season after a hugely rewarding 28-year alliance with the Ballydoyle stable of Aidan O'Brien, the seven-year-old had a little in hand as he scored by a length and a quarter from the Sean Davis-trained Jaafel, the even money favourite.

Both Victory Star and Jaafel were claimed after the race and are set to join trainer Charles Byrnes.

David Marnane won the six-furlong conditions’ race with the Luke McAteer-ridden Jakajaro. In the colours of MCR International, the 7/2 chance travelled noticeably well and led inside the final furlong to see off the Gavin Ryan-ridden Genesis, trained by Barry Fitzgerald, by a neck.

The Ask Dot Syndicate-owned Walhaan made all the running under Joey Sheridan to win the 10-furlong handicap for trainer Ciaran Murphy. The eight-year-old battled well to see off the Paul Flynn-trained even money favourite Emeric by half a length.

Perhaps a more difficult winner for punters to find was the Nathan Crosse-ridden Fivecromwellplace which won the seven-furlong handicap for Kilkenny trainer Paul McEnery at odds of 40/1. Crosse had an easy enough time of things on the three-year-old which raced up with the pace and led over a furlong from the finish to beat the Michael Mulvany-trained Velvet Skies, a 33/1 chance, by two lengths, the pair two and a half lengths ahead of the Michael O'Callaghan-trained odds-on favourite I Bid You Ajou.

Cian Quirke rode his first winner at Thurles when partnering the Tim Doyle-trained Answering to land the two-mile opportunity maiden hurdle on Saturday. He made all the running on the favourite, owned and bred by the trainer’s wife Claire, which ran out a cosy four-length winner Toor Khov.

Ireland dominate Cheltenham

Ten Irish-based jockeys and six Irish-based trainers made it to the winners’ enclosure at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

In all, there were 18 Irish-trained winners with Willie Mullins and Paul Townend leading the way with nine and six successes respectively. The pair captured the headlines with the likes of Galopin Des Champs, State Man and Ballyburn and Mullins, who took his over Cheltenham Festival tally to 103 winners, was crowed champion trainer for the eleventh winner with Townend, now with 34 festival winners to his name, the top jockey for the fourth time. JP McManus was the top owner with five winners.

The Danny Gilligan-ridden Better Days Ahead, the Sam Ewing-ridden Stellar Story and Jack Kennedy’s mount Teahupoo were all winners for Gordon Elliott, while Henry de Bromhead struck with two Rachael Blackmore-ridden winners, Captain Guinness, and Slade Steel.

Gavin Cromwell was also a double winner with Inothewayurthinkin, ridden by Derek O'Connor, and the Keith Donoghue-ridden Limerick Lace while Joseph O'Brien saddled Lark In The Morning, ridden by JJ Slevin, to win with Emmet Mullins celebrating the success of Corbett’s Cross, another ridden by top amateur O'Connor.

Mark Walsh rode two winners for Willie Mullins, Fact To File and the four-year-old Majborough while another of the Willie Mullins winners, Jasmin De Vaux, successful in the Champion Bumper, was ridden by the trainer’s son Patrick. Fittingly, it proved to be Willie Mullins’ 100th Cheltenham Festival winner.

Upcoming Meetings

Cork – Thursday, March 21 (First Race 2.23pm)

Dundalk – Friday, March 22 (First Race 5pm)

Navan – Saturday, March 23 (First Race 2.17pm)

Limerick – Sunday, March 24 (First Race 1.45pm)

Naas – March 24 (First Race (First Race 1.25pm)