Double up for Doyle aboard Looney Tom Doyle recorded a double on the day (scored aboard Spring Heeled in the first) as he guide the Tom Nagle trained The Bishop Looney to victory in the Renvyle House Hotel Handicap Chase. The 7yo son of Oscar had three wins to his name before today all of which came back in 2008. He won a bumper over 2m at Tralee in September before following up in a maiden hurdle at Cork in November. He then landed a Grade 3 novice hurdle over 3m again at Cork in December. However he failed to score again on his next fourteen starts but did run some good races in defeat including finishing second to Clan Tara in a Grade 2, novice hurdle and finising third in two valuable handicap hurdles. Having his first start in a handicap chase today, the 9/1 winner chased the leader An Blascaoid Mor into the straight and got on terms inside the final furlong. He stayed on best from there going on to score by three and a half lengths at the line. An Blascaoid Mor plugged on for second at 9/1 under Andrew Lynch while last year's winner Mirador Del Conde finished a further five and a half lengths back in third at 12/1. The 7/2 favourite Second Glance finished out of the placings a further four lengths back in fourth. Winning trainer Tom Nagle said afterwards: "He handled that ground well and stayed on well. The owners (The Looney Bishop syndicate) are from Wales."
