Double for Hayes as Cheval does it again

Cheval Rouge provided Chris Hayes with a first and last race double (won the first on Pixie Hollow , as she took the finale at Sligo this evening, the Sligo Weekender Handicap, a race which she won last year.

The Harry Rogers trained six-year-old daughter of Tagula was recording her seventh career victory today and her first of 2013.

She finished a well beaten fifth to Maundy Money at Galway last week, and she was sent off 14/1, after opening on-course 11s, touching 10s.

Held up towards the rear, she made progress and was ridden into seventh two furlongs from home.

She went fourth on the outer a furlong out, and she got a nice clear run up the straight, keeping on best to score by half a length.

After winning at Galway last week, Treasure The Ridge was sent off the 7/4 favourite under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld.

He had every chance in the closing stages but he couldn’t match the winner and had to settle for second, while Park Ranger finished three parts of a length back in third under Fran Berry for Christy Roche at 14/1.

Harry Rogers said afterwards: “Chris rode her the last day and he said to leave the blinkers off her.

"She is not bad when she gets her ground.

"She has been a great old servant and we will wait for soft ground before running her again.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee