Ciankyle provides cheer for Cluskey & Bolger

Ciankyle provided Mark Bolger with a timely success when making all in the Roscommon Racecourse Handicap Hurdle.

The jockey starts a five-day suspension this weekend following a recent running and riding enquiry at Tramore and was bringing a quiet spell over the past few months to an end.

The 7/1 victory was even sweeter for trainer Peter Cluskey who has gone over two years without a winner but that gap was bridged in no uncertain manner here.

The dual purpose seven-year-old, who was narrowly denied at Limerick last month, asserted from the penultimate flight and stayed on strongly to beat 4/1 favourite I’m Serious by eight lengths. Mr Moondance made eye-catching progress in the straight to take third, with Athloman Cottage completing the places in fourth.

Cluskey said, "He is a nice type of horse and he had a good run at Limerick before we ran him on the flat at Gowran when he was only beaten four lengths. We were happy enough with that and it kept him going and it kept him sweet for today.

"He can mix hurdles and flat now and is a nice one for over a hurdle."

Cluskey trains a small string near Balbriggan, while successful owner/breeder Hugh Calvey lives nearby in Julianstown.

(TW & AM)