There was doubles all round at Tralee on Sunday when Paddy Flood and Niall Madden stole the riding honours both partnering doubles while Niall Madden senior saddled both winners ridden by his son.
Having partnered his first winner of the season at Tipperary on Friday evening Paddy Flood recorded a quick fire opening race double when winning aboard Camarilla in the opener and Keys Pride half an hour later.
Coppervega, Allgrownup and Camarilla were clear of their rivals early on in the two and a half mile mares hurdle with Coppervega and Shay Barry making the running. Eoghan O Grady's charge could not keep up the early pace and dropped away down the back leaving 5/2 favourite Allgrownup to battle out proceedings with Camarilla.
The latter jumped the fourth last in front and it was a lead she maintained all the way to the line despite coming under strong pressure from the market leader.
Winning trainer Adrian Maguire said of the 10/1 shot, 'She won a point-to-point in Dromahane and while she is not over big she is genuine and is tough as nails. Paddy Flood gave her a great ride.'
Flood completed his double half an hour later when partnering Stephen Ryan's Keys Pride in the two and a half miles novice hurdle. Flood was more patient here settling his mount in mid division before cruising into a promising position three hurdles out and going clear over the last to score by an impressive eight lengths.
'This is a really good mare,' stated Stephen Ryan of his three-time winner. 'She is starting to fulfil her promise and we might go to Galway with her.'
Niall ?Slippers' Madden instigated his double when partnering Swiss Cottage in the first division of the Book Your Festival Tickets Handicap Hurdle. The five-year-old gelding made good ground three out before being strongly pressed by Walk In My Shadow and Shay Barry. However, in the colours of Anita Huber Swiss Cottage held on all out under Madden.
His father and winning trainer Boots remarked, 'He is a nice horse on the flat and really appreciated that ease in the ground today.'
Boots and Slippers completed their double when the heavily backed Smugglers Song obliged in the two and a half mile beginners chase. Available for a very short time at 8/1 on course the JP McManus owned eight year old started the race the 11/4 favourite. Followers had few anxious moments as he was eased down after the last on the way to recording an eight length-winning margin.
'He jumped well today and I won't be getting carried away as today wasn't a great race but it is good to win as he has had a few leg problems. We will keep going for the summer as long as the ground is not too hard,' concluded Madden Senior.
The feature race of the afternoon was won by the Noel Glynn trained Serve Time who was making it two on the trot having won at Punchestown last time out. It was a welcome return to the saddle for Cork jockey Davy Russell who had been off for a week after suffering a horrendous fall at Navan last weekend.
Assistant trainer to Glynn, Jason Titley said afterwards, 'Davy Russell thinks that she has improved since the last day when she won at Punchestown and we will be looking at a conditions race next for him next. In time chasing will be his game though.'
Another one to win well was the Tony Martin trained Arc Bleu who was making his seasonal debut in the second division of the two mile and one furlong handicap hurdle. Under Ken Whelan the gelding who there was very little to like about on previous form lines challenged two out before going on by four lengths from Jimmy Spot On in second.
'He is a very nice horse who was disappointing so far and today was the first day he showed his true colours,' said Martin.
Wing Of Fire showed staying was his forte when landing the Denny Handicap Chase over three miles. Berkley looked to have the race wrapped up with Shay Barry but his mount just tired rapidly after the last and handed the advantage to Martin Mooney and Wing Of Fire who rallied on under pressure.
Trainer Pat Hughes admitted he thought he was fighting for second place, 'I thought we had no chance jumping the second last but he won over three miles at Navan and obviously he is a real stayer. I will not run him on real summer ground and when it does get faster we will put him away until around September. The Kerry National is a slight possibility at this stage.'
Following the last race there were scenes of pure jubilation as Kirbybroguelantern won the bumper for another father and son partnership - Tom and Andrew Hogan - in the colours of the Brogue Lanterns Syndicate. The well-known publican Bill Kirby heads that syndicate and he led in the six-year-old Tidaro gelding before joining his supporters as they gave onlookers a rendition of the Rose Of Tralee.
By Niall Cronin
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