CREPELLO - Tom Hogan lands Ballinrobe Gamble

Plundering big prizes around the world is nothing new to trainer Tom Hogan but he is also a dab hand at having a tilt at the ring as he showed at Ballinrobe last week when saddling Born To Rule to take the extended two-mile maiden hurdle.

Backed from as high as 20/1 into 8/1, the Born To Sea gelding had to battle hard before delivering the goods. Never too far out of his ground under Mark McDonagh, the Born To Sea gelding looked in trouble when he made a mistake two out, however, McDonagh never panicked and drove his mount between horses to lead almost on the line for a head victory.

When I spoke to Tom Hogan, he told me that the ride by McDonagh, who is attached mainly to the Michael Hourigan yard and also to his father’s stable in Clare, was right out of the top drawer.

Born To Rule, who was a sixteen-race maiden coming into the race, has let the side down on more than one occasion as he doesn't always produce his homework on the track but now that he has managed to finally get his head in front, he is well capable of doing so again.

Depending on the handicapper’s assessment the trainer is viewing, a four-year-old handicap hurdle back at the same venue as the next port of call but in all honesty a small penalty is as much as he is entitled to.

Denis Hogan continued his rich vein of form when taking the bumper courtesy of Modreeney on which rider John O'Meara was bridging a six-year gap since his last winner but five of those years were spent in retirement.

Following a decent run at Galway at odds of 100/1, the Famous Name gelding was well fancied to collect, and he did not disappoint. Never too far out of his ground Modreeney was right on the premises turning to face the judge. Racing wide he responded well to the urgings of O'Meara to withstand a serious examination by Tchoupinminzac by a head.

The winning rider is very much part of the Hogan team, and he could have another profitable day out when Modreeney next appears at Listowel.

Philip Rothwell has found Ballinrobe a happy-hunting ground this season and he kept up good run by recording a double which was initiated by Baltinglass Hill in the two-mile 80-109 handicap hurdle.

Always in the firing line, the four-year-old came under pressure before the final flight but he found plenty for jockey Darragh O'Keeffe to defeat Lady De Viscin by three-parts of a length.

Oscar Romero made it three wins from his last four starts when the three mile and a furlong handicap hurdle to complete the Rothwell brace.

Given plenty of time to find his feet under jockey Hugh Morgan, the son of Court Cave improved to dispute the lead rising to the penultimate Hurdle and in spite of a mistake at the last won being eased down by Three and a quarter lengths from the gallant eleven-year-old Doran’s River.

Rothwell told me that he bypassed Galway to come here given the way his charge won at the venue on last appearance here. He saw out the trip well which gives the trainer more options when placing him again.

Hogan salts the Bookies again at Gowran Park

Fresh from his exploits at Ballinrobe, Tom Hogan fairly salted the bookies again at Gowran Park on Wednesday when he landed the €21,000 to the winner Open Week At Gowran Park Handicap over seven furlongs with Nebo.

Backed from 12&14/1 into 8/1, the Kodiac gelding made most of the running in the hands of Leigh Roche and kept on strongly in the closing stages to defeat the Denis Hogan runner Big Baby Bull by two and a quarter lengths.

This was a cracking display by Nebo who was conceding 12lb to the runner-up and he nearly went halfway down the back straight before Roche could pull him up. His injuries that included a broken wither to a serious throat infection which nearly whipped him during the winter months have been well documented and due homage must be paid to Hogan for persevering with him when the veterinary advice suggested that he was a lost cause.

The trainer told me that the next port of call is Tipperary after which the big handicap at Leopardstown on Champions Weekend is also under consideration and if he is given an easy lead at either venue, he could take some beating.

The amazing rags to riches story of Solene Lilyette for Andy Slattery senior and junior continued when she captured the Listed Hurry Harriet Stakes at the expense of Astadash.

By Pivotal, who is one of the best broodmare sires in the business, Solene Lilyette was a seven-race maiden when offered for sale by her owners and breeders Moyglare Stud at an online Goff’s Sale in February and was purchased by Andy senior for €12,000. After winning on both her starts for her new owners, she was sold on to Team Valour and finished a good second in a valuable handicap at the Curragh on Derby weekend.

Always close to the pace Solene Lilyette got the better of a protracted dual in the straight with Astadash to take the money by half a length.

A clearly delighted winning jockey revealed that was his first winner since losing his claim and also his first Listed winner for his father. A Group 3 contest at The Curragh later in the month is now under consideration for the winner but one thing is for certain she is now worth many times more that she cost.

Downthesellar at Tramore

Edward O'Grady got the four-day Tramore meeting off to a flying start when he landed the opening two-mile rated novice chase with Downthesellar who was completing a four-timer over fences and his third success at Tramore.

After tracking the leaders, the seven-year-old made his challenge at the second last before jumping the final flight in front and running all the way to the line where he had a length and a half to spare over She Tops The Lot.

In his post-race debrief, O'Grady revealed that this wasn't a clever race to run the horse in but because of his experience and his jumping he might put the favourite Alice Avril under pressure as she is only a four-year-old. In the end it was his experience rather that his ability that won the day.

Cluan Dara, from the John Ryan stable, took the two mile and five handicap chase which was the opener at Fridays second session under a polished Bryan Cooper ride.

Coming from off the pace, the son of Scorpion picked off the leaders from three out to jump the last in front and comfortably hold the challenge of Carnet De Stage by a length and three-parts.

Now a nine-year-old, the winner was winning for the fourth time, but he has also picked up plenty of place money over the years to keep everybody happy.

Both Denis Hogan and John Ryan saddling winners at Sundays concluding session, the former was success with Shane Mulcahy ridden Wojood in the maiden hurdle while Ryan took the two mile and six handicap chase with the well backed Rippon Lodge.