Aussies take early lead in jump jockeys challenge The home team won both races as the Australia v Ireland jump jockeys challenge got underway earlier today at Murray Bridge, 80km east of Adelaide.The Aussies landed both the hurdle and the invitational Flat handicap to take a lead of 26 points to 10, although Bobby Molloy played his part for the Irish side when twice finishing second.Local Adelaide jockey Nathan Dunn beat Molloy by a neck in the hurdle with Andrew McNamara and Tom Ryan well behind in fifth and sixth places on outsiders. Only six runners and Denis O´Regan was the unlucky one without a ride. The home team also had the odds-on favourite but he could only finish fourth.´It´s competitive but the horses aren´t very good, they´re like low grade all weather performers in England,´ said Molloy, who rode his first winners around Wolverhampton before turning to jumping.Molloy went on to finish second in the flat race, beaten just over a length on a 10/1 chance Manihi Prince, behind Swig, partnered by Bill Williams, who rode over here for Michael O´Brien and Arthur Moore a few years ago. Morphettville´s Irish Day on Saturday marks a big step in in class and both the chase and hurdle there have attracted full sized fields with the visitors apparently drawing fancied horses in the two races.From there, it´s a flight to Melbourne and a long drive to Warrnambool for Sunday´s meeting.
