The Michael Halford team continues to send out winners at an impressive rate and the hottest horse box on The Curragh at the moment made it seven consecutive winning trips, completing a double in the opening two races at Ballinrobe today.
Halford's stable apprentice Rory Cleary was on board both winners, opening with Lightwood Lady in the Moylough Concrete Maiden and doubling up on Who'd Of Guest in the Yolanda O'Gorman Memorial Handicap.
Lightwood Lady tracked the leaders before improving to lead approaching the straight, eventually staying on for a length success over Cookie Cutter.
Halford was full of praise for Cleary following Lightwood Lady's win, reporting 'Rory gave her an excellent ride, getting her covered up early on, from a bad draw.'
Half an hour later, the 1m1f handicap was over in a matter of a few strides as Halford's Who'd Of Guest sprinted clear of her rivals to record an effortless success, her second in three days and her third in succession.
Carrying a fixed 5lb penalty for an easy win at The Curragh on Saturday, the 1/1 favourite improved to lead two furlongs out, eventually winning by an effortless four and a half lengths.
The hat-trick scorer may, according to Halford 'go for a Premier Handicap over 1m4f at Galway on the Friday although he shows so much pace that he may even drop back in trip.'
'He is well schooled over jumps and will go hurdling at some stage.' Who'd Of Guest's win was also the 50th career win of Rory Cleary's career, meaning Cleary's 5lbs claim is reduced to a still valuable 3lbs.
Another winner bound for Galway is Paul Nolan's Tarn Ridge, who ran out the comfortable winner of the John McMahon Handicap Chase, under another sound ride from John Cullen.
Afterwards Nolan mentioned 'Tarn Ridge takes his racing well and will go for a handicap chase at Galway.'
Jockey Davy Russell came in for praise from trainer Charlie Swan, who used to ride a bit, following his handling of Swan's Balindooley, winner of the McHale Engineering Maiden Hurdle.
Swan later reported 'Davy was good on the horse who can be a difficult ride. However, he has plenty of ability and will make a nice chaser in time; he is likely to be sent to the Doncaster Sales next month.'
Pat Hughes' Queens Musician landed the JJ Burke Peugeot & Isuzu Handicap under Declan McDonogh.
Hughes later reported that the seven year old gelding 'has had leg trouble in the past and it's a case of taking it day by day with him.'
Jockey Alan Crowe returned to race-riding yesterday, following a broken collarbone, and partnered first reserve Carmens Ford to a narrow win the 2m4f handicap hurdle for Christy Roche.
