In-form Kilmallock jockey Ray Barron visits winners' enclosure

Declan Queally, three from left, with Kilmallock jockey Ray Barron and connections of Mick Charlie in the winners’ enclosure at Fairyhouse on Monday last | PICTURE: Patrick McCann/Racing Post

LIMERICK jockey Ray Barron teamed up with County Waterford trainer Declan Queally to win the three-mile handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse on Monday last with Mick Charlie.

The Thomas Coughlan-owned 13/2 chance landed his third career success when leading before the final hurdle to score by a length and a quarter from the David Harvey-trained Ballydangan.

Barron was again in the saddle as the Queally-trained My Design readily turned over odds-on favourite and Grade 1 winner Feronily to take the conditions’ chase over a trip close to two miles and seven furlongs at Galway the following afternoon.

Only three horses went to post and the one for money was certainly the likable eight-year-old mare which was backed from 13/2 to 85/40 before making all the running for a convincing five and a half-length win over the Emmet Mullins-trained 1/2 favourite, a big winner at the Punchestown festival in April.

My Design, owned and bred by Fiona O'Connor, was adding to a win over hurdles at the Galway festival in August and was recording her fourth career success in all. The winners’ enclosure at Galway is familiar territory to Barron who famously rode three winners at the summer festival this year.

Moyross jockey Wesley Joyce landed a double at Navan on Wednesday where he shared his winners with County Meath-based Mick Mulvany. The pair combined to land the near six-furlong apprentice handicap with Rathbranchurch. A narrow runner-up at Bellewstown on his previous start, the three-year-old led inside the final furlong to beat Pat Martin’s Gobi Star by half a length at odds of 7/1.

The Raymond McMahon-owned Fratas completed the double for Joyce and Mulvany when taking the eight-furlong fillies and mares’ handicap at odds of 13/2. She got the better of the Ger Lyons-trained 100/30 favourite Perfect Poise, ridden by Colin Keane, by a neck to register her fourth win in a row and her fifth since joining the Kells trainer in May.

Ballingarry jockey Billy Lee had a far easier time of things as he took the opening division of the 10-furlong handicap on the Sheila Lavery-trained Solar Breeze. Arguably the easiest winner of the day, the Royal Racing Club-owned four-year-old had any amount in hand as she beat Pat Flynn’s Not Just Any Eagle by four and three-parts of a length at odds of 7/1.

Philip Byrnes gave Neill McCluskey a winner at Downpatrick on Friday where Moneynabane took the two-mile six-furlong handicap hurdle in good style. It was a 1-2 for the local trainer as the 9/2 chance ran out a six-length winner from the 12/1 shot Wee Jerry.

Billy Lee added to his week’s tally with winners for two northern trainers at Dundalk on Friday evening. He teamed up with Andy Oliver to take the seven-furlong nursery handicap on the Trevor Dalzell-owned King Of Gosford which arrived late on the scene to pip the Adrian Murray-trained Courageous Strike by a neck.

Lee added to his success on the 5/2 favourite when partnering 2/1 favourite Dandyville to win the seven-furlong handicap for Natalia Lupini. Half a length was the winning distance as the five-year-old beat the Ado McGuinness-trained Hightimeyouwon under top-weight.

Shanagolden's Chris Hayes rode a notable winner for Aidan O'Brien when partnering 20/1 shot Content to win the Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. She came from last to first to beat Kitty Rose, the Billy Lee-ridden 11/10 favourite, by two and a half lengths, only the second winner Hayes has ridden for the champion trainer in Ireland. 

Upcoming Fixtures:

Punchestown – Tuesday, October 10 (First Race 1.50pm)

Punchestown – Wednesday, October 11 (First Race 1.50pm)

Tramore – Thursday, October 12 (First Race 2pm)

Curragh – Thursday, October 12 (First Race 1.50pm)

Dundalk – Friday, October 13 (First Race 5.15pm)

Naas – Saturday, October 14 (First Race 1.40pm)

Naas – Sunday, October 15 (First Race 1.05pm)

Cork – Sunday, October 15 (First Race 2pm)