Quirke back in the winners’ enclosure after injury lay-off

Cian Quirke rode his second winner since returning from a three-month layoff when partnering Aussie Warrior to an impressive success in the four-year-old opportunity maiden hurdle at Roscommon on Monday.

A first winner for Carlow trainer Thomas Hughes, the 16/1 chance sported the silks of owner Pat Byrne, colours made famous by fourteen-length 1999 Galway Hurdle winner Quinze, and he made all the running beat the Michael O'Connor-trained Mercury Mission by four and a quarter lengths.

Lucid Dreams added to last month’s Ballinrobe success when wining the two and a half-mile rated novice hurdle for owner/trainer John Ryan. Littleton jockey Liam Quinlan was again in the saddle as the favourite led at the second last hurdle on his way to a four-length win over the Andy Slattery-trained Lady Of The Vale.

The Harry Swan-ridden Weseekherthere completed a double for Gordon Elliott with a one and three-parts of a length win in the concluding bumper. Owned by Dee L’Estrange, the favourite led early in the straight and held off the Stuart Crawford-trained Ayiko to score. Elliott had earlier won the opening novice chase with Lieutenant Highway.

Heavy rain and a lightning storm caused a nineteen-minute delay to the start of the six-and-a-half-furlong handicap next race, but events worked in the favour of the Nathan Crosse-ridden Cnodian, trained by Willie McCreery.

Originally drawn out wide, she benefited more than most as the race was started by flag, and she was able to race up the pace before leading approaching the furlong-pole to score by three-parts of a length from Austin Leahy’s Linger For Longer.

Paddy Twomey set jockey Billy Lee up for a double as his Bella Blue Eyes put up a determined display to win the opening seven-furlong fillies’ maiden at Leopardstown on Thursday.

Lee made all the running on the Edward Walsh-owned 11/4 chance and the pair comfortably held the late run of Jessica Harrington’s favourite Eternal Silence, ridden by Chris Hayes, to win by half a length.

Twomey and Lee shared a bigger winner at Cork on Friday evening where the five-year-old Rosscarbery landed the Group 3 Darley Munster Oaks in convincing fashion. She pipped Yaxeni by a neck to win the race last year and this time she recorded a more comfortable success in beating the Dermot Weld-trained three-year-old Azazat by half a length.

The Donnacha O'Brien and Gavin Ryan partnership landed a very well-supported winner as the two-year-old Mysteries took the opening six-furlong maiden. An odds-on favourite, she raced close to the pace and led well inside the final furlong to win by a comfortable one and three-parts of a length from Gavin Cromwell’s Clarita.

At Fairyhouse on Friday, the Sean Bowen-ridden Out On Friday followed up on his success over the same course and distance seven days previously when winning the 12-furlong handicap. The Philip Byrne-trained seven-year-old defied a 14lbs hike in the ratings as outbattled Shane Ryder’s No Hassle to win by a head in the colours of his owner/breeder Anthony Deegan.

Trainer Sam Curling and Adam Ryan combined to win the amateur riders’ handicap hurdle over two mile and five furlongs with Susie Miller at Downpatrick on Saturday. The 6/1 chance enjoyed a great run along the rail after jumping the final flight and she had a length and a quarter to spare over the Philip Rothwell-trained Beechroad Winnie at the line, an eighth racecourse winner for Ryan.

Shane Broderick won the opportunity beginners’ chase over a trip close to three miles with the Raymond Loughnane-owned Sphagnum. Twice a winner over hurdle, the six-year-old was having his first start over fences and he romped to a ten-length win under Dillon Maxwell.

On Father’s Day, Andrew Slattery shared a winner with his dad Andy as newcomer Jolt took the opening seven-furlong maiden for two-year-olds at Gowran Park on Sunday. Owned by Rachael and David Halley, the 22/1 chance looked to have a good deal in hand as he beat Aidan O'Brien’s Air commander by a length and half.

The Fog Horn, owned, bred, and trained by Ballinalard’s Seamus O’Donnell landed the three-year-old handicap over the same distance. Wayne Lordan partnered the 12/1 shot which backed up a big run at Fairyhouse to record a three-length win over the Edward Lynam-trained Gosford which was ridden by Ben Coen.

Philip Fenton and Gortnahoe conditional jockey Niall Moore got punters off to a flyer at Downpatrick on Sunday where Mister Twist scored a comfortable win in the opening opportunity maiden hurdle. Owned and bred by Bertie Mannion, the well-supported 5/4 favourite led after the third-last hurdle and ran out a three and a quarter length scorer from the Paul Fahey-trained Dylan’s Day.

One that readily beat a favourite to win was the Ray Hackett-trained Rock On Seamie which scored an easy success in the two-mile one-furlong handicap hurdle. Ridden by Daniel King, the 5/1 chance went clear over the final hurdle to beat the Gordon Elliott’s By Your Side by four and three-parts of a length in the trainer’s own colours.

Hackett’s 5/4 favourite Sequoiaspirit was beaten into second place by the Noel Meade-trained Charlie Luciano in the rated novice hurdle 35 minutes later.

Upcoming Meetings

Wexford – Wednesday, June 21 (First Race 5.20pm)

Leopardstown – Thursday, June 22 (First Race 5.10pm)

Down Royal – Friday, June 23 (First Race 4.50pm)

Limerick – Friday, June 23 (First Race 5.08pm)

Limerick – Saturday, June 24 (First Race 5.23pm)

Down Royal – Saturday, June 24 (First Race 2pm)