Tipperary Racing Scene

Toomevara trainer Ray Hackett saddled Morricone to win the John Thomas McNamara Series Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown last week.

A strong favourite in the colours of the Ballyvara Racing Syndicate, the seven-year-old led on the run to the final hurdle and he pulled clear under Joey Dunne to score by four and a quarter lengths from the John & Thomas Kiely-trained Joyeux Vivo.

Nathan Crosse added to his double at the track five days previously when riding a winner for trainer Luke Comer at Dundalk on Tuesday. He partnered the six-year-old Dark Street to land the opening division of the 10-furlong handicap, the 15/2 chance racing away inside the final furlong to score by four and a quarter lengths from John McConnell’s shot Together Acclaim.

At odds of 66/1, Gains Of War was another winner for Nathan Crosse and Luke Comer when taking the two-mile handicap at Dundalk on Friday.

Also owned and bred by Comer, the five-year-old led just before the furlong pole and battled well to beat the Mark Molloy-trained Folly Beach, the favourite, by half a length.

Macadam’s Rock won the seven-furlong handicap for Thurles trainer Hilary McLoughlin and jockey Joey Sheridan. In the colours of owner John Meagher, the 16/1 chance led inside the final furlong to win by a length from the Tom Dowling-trained Mullacash Buzz.

Jake Coen came to the rescue of punters when taking the opening division of the 12-furlong handicap on the Tony Martin-trained favourite Secret Rock. Owned by Newtown Anner Stud, the well-backed five-year-old led inside the final furlong to beat the Shane Crawley-trained St Cianan’s Fire by a length and a quarter.

Denis Hogan won the near two-mile handicap hurdle with Little Mixup at Thurles on Sunday. Jockey Mark McDonagh timed his run to perfection as the 12/1 chance reeled in the front-running Pakens Rock after the final hurdle to win by a comfortable four and three-parts of a length.

Upcoming Meetings

Fairyhouse – Wednesday, January 24 (First Race 12.30pm)

Gowran Park – Thursday, January 25 (First Race 1.05pm)

Dundalk – Friday, January 26 (First Race 4.30pm)

Fairyhouse – Saturday, January 27 (First Race 1.05pm)

Naas – Sunday, January 28 (First Race 1.20pm)