Kinsale trainer Robert Tyner began the New Year in the best possible fashion with two winners at Cork on Saturday.
Phillip Enright was in the saddle as 10/1 shot Midnight Stroll came from well off the pace to land the 2m4f handicap hurdle at the main expense of the Mick Winters-trained Chatham Street Lad, which was the gambled-on 3/1 favourite.
Jody McGarvey was the man on top as 16/1 chance Concordin took the 2m4f handicap chase to wrap up the Tyner double. The 11-year-old battled well to beat the Tom Nagle-trained Danse Away by a neck for owner JP McManus.
It was a good day for local trainers as John Joe Walsh sent out Bridies Boy to win the beginners’ chase. Owned and bred by James O’Callaghan, the 25/1 chance beat the Terrence O’Brien-trained Overbury Prince into second place.
Carrigtwohill trainer O’Brien has the Arkle chase at the next month’s Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in mind for the smart Articulum, which made all the running to win the 2m novice chase at Naas on Sunday.
David Mullins was in the saddle as the well-supported even money chance readily accounted for 9/10 favourite Campeador.
Title hopefuls Paul Townend and Davy Russell kicked off the New Year with doubles at Fairyhouse and Tramore respectively.
Townend scored with the Willie Mullins-trained My Sister Sarah and Matthew Smith’s Ronald Pump at the County Meath venue, while Russell rode winners for Gordon Elliott and Paul Nolan on Askari and Crazyheart respectively at Tramore.
UPCOMING FIXTURES
Clonmel – Thursday, January 10 (first race 12.15); Dundalk – Friday, January 11 (first race 5.30); Fairyhouse – Saturday, January 12 (first race 12.25); Punchestown – Sunday, January 13 (first race 12.40).
