Andrew McNamara was the man to follow at Sligo as he notched a double aboard Equation and Fearnwood Girl
The rider sparked his brace with victory aboard the Peter Casey-trained Equation (11-4) in the opening June 29th At Sligo Mares Maiden Hurdle.
He then followed up Tom McCourt's Fearnwood Girl in the Sligo Racecourse Maiden Hurdle.
Sent off the even-money favourite, she scored by a comfortable four lengths from Mannin Beach after taking up the running two flights from home.
"She stays and she'll get two and a half miles. We'll see now what the handicapper gives her," said McCourt.< Ballyadam Brook (6-4 favourite) had proved a little disappointing for connections so far but after three placed efforts since March, he finally came good in the [email protected] Maiden Hurdle.
"He is a horse we paid big money for and he had disappointed," said trainer Terence O'Brien.
"We had an unusual operation carried out on his nostrils by Ger Kelly in Fethard and when we brought him back, we weren't hoping for a whole lot.
"However, he has progressed from a few placings and we're delighted with the win tonight.
"He'll have a small break now and then go to Galway maybe where he'd have a couple of options."< Dafarabad returned from a lengthy lay-off to score for for trainer Niall Madden in the Corner House Bar Ballymote Handicap Hurdle.
Partnered by 'Slippers' Madden, the handler's son, the 8-1 shot kept finding more to hang on by a neck from staying-on Go On Ya Boyo
"He was in good order coming here and he'll do a bit of both (flat and hurdling) for the summer," said Madden snr.
"His best form had been on the flat but he was second to Our Monty over hurdles.
"He is getting a bit old (eight now) but he is an honest devil. I was amazed at the way he battled out there."
