Hugely popular Newmarket-on-Fergus trainer Pat Lynch enjoyed a welcome change of fortune when his well-fancied 3-1 favourite Moving On ran out a facile winner of a 12-runner two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe on Tuesday of last week.

Lynch and his brother John have been involved in horses all their lives at their Latoon stables and Moving On, who carries the colours of his breeder Jim Madden, provided a much-needed tonic for the entire Lynch family, who were dealt a cruel blow following the tragic death of Pat’s teenage daughter Patricia in a hunting accident back in November 2010.
Promising young Cork-born rider Adrian Heskin did the steering aboard Moving On, who really stamped his authority on this 80-95-rated contest when making all the running to register a comfortable eight-and-a-half-length success over runner-up Markey Cee.
An emotional Lynch explained, “This is a lovely little horse and is a genuine as the day is long.
“It may only be a low-grade handicap but it was a like a Gold Cup to us as we have been through a lot in the past 18 months.”
There was also joy for ­local owner Rose Vaughan and her Ennis-based accountant husband Michael as their five-year-old Fairy Wing landed some nice bets when victorious in a seven-furlong handicap at Leopardstown last Thursday for Kildare trainer Jessica Harrington.
Fairy Wing, a son of Hawk Wing out of Mintaka, was the only one for money in the ring when hardening from 9-2 into 3-1 favourite and Fran Berry’s mount did the businesses with the minimum of fuss.
Quickly into his stride, Fairy Wing was in the front two from an early stage and, once Berry asked his mount to quicken at the furlong pole, the result was never in doubt as he sprinted clear to beat Jembatt by three-and-a-half lengths.
This was Fairy Wing’s fourth success and there is a possibility he may well appear at Ballybrit before the end of the week, according to his Moone-based handler, who outlined, “We were thinking of waiting for Galway but when the ground there looked like coming up testing we opted to come here instead.
“He must have goodish ground and we’ll see what the weather does before making a final decision about running at Galway.”

Mangan makes history as Weld fires 155-1 hat-trick

Galway’s seven-day 2012 summer festival kicked off on Monday evening with ­teenage Cork girl Jane Mangan ­making history when ­becoming the first female rider to land the big amateur riders’ handicap when ­steering Dermot Weld’s 11-1 shot, Midnight Music, to victory
This race has been run in many guises since its inception way back in 1959, with the current title being the Carlton Hotel Galway City (QR) Handicap and ‘King of Galway’ Weld struck again when taking this €70,000 contest, much to the joy of large legion of supporters at the western venue.
The booking of 19-year-old Mangan caught quite a few people’s eyes and she ­certainly justified Weld’s faith in her with a polished display.
Held up in the main pack in the early stages of the race, Midnight Music came with a telling challenge early in the home straight before forging ahead for a clear-cut two-and-three-quarter length win over the Derek O’Connor-ridden runner-up, Cry For The Moon.
“That was a great ride from Jane and only what I ­expected,” said the winning handler, who looks after the successful daughter of ­Dubawi for owner Lady O’Reilly.
“Midnight Music is a small filly and I felt that Jane’s 7lb claim would be a big help to her.
“My only worry was that she might not stay the two-mile trip but she came home really well and that opens up a lot of avenues for us now,” added Weld, who was claiming his seventh success in the race.
Reflecting on her biggest win to date in the saddle, Mangan, whose father Jimmy won the Galway Plate as a trainer way back in 1997 with Stroll Home and of course landed the Grand National with Monty’s Pass, said, “That was easy, to be honest. I tracked Clarach all the way and once my filly got the break, she quickened up really well.
“Riding one of Mr Weld’s horses around Galway is always a big plus and I’m really thankful to him and the owner for giving me the opportunity.”
Earlier, the Weld bandwagon had rolled into town in some style when his Train Of Thought had initiated a first-evening treble for the master of Rosewell House when ­recording a comfortable ­success under Ruby Walsh in the opening Radisson Hotel Galway.com Novice Hurdle.
Eight went to post in this two-miler, with Walsh making every yard of the running aboard the successful 9-4 shot.
His mount stole a nice lead with a quick jump at the ­second last and never looked in danger from that point when running on powerfully up the final hill to beat ­Faustina Pious by four lengths.
Weld, who bagged a record-breaking 17 wins at Galway in 2012, was also in the ­winner’s enclosure following the seven-furlong Claregalwayhotel.ie maiden, where his Thunder Mountain caused an upset when scoring at 3-1.
Father and son combination of Aidan and Joseph O’Brien were expected to hit the ­target here with 2-5 favourite Line Drummer but Pat ­Smullen, who rides Galway better than most, had other ideas as he popped Thunder Mountain into an early lead and fought off allcomers when passing the post four-and-a-half lengths ahead of runner-up Don’t Bother Mel.
Hot-pot Line Drummer, who lost an ocean of ground when running wide of the last bend, was a further short head away in third.
Tipperary trainer Denis Hogan is fast making a name for himself and he saddled his first festival winner when Kalellshan scored in the hotelmeryck.ie & theghotel.com handicap hurdle.
Sent off at 7-1, the Mark Enright-ridden son of Saddlers’ Hall made every post a winning one in this two-mile event and was full value for his latest success when crossing the line five lengths ahead of well-backed 3-1 favourite, Maxim Gorky.
Former Kildare footballer Willie McCreery was another trainer to break his festival duck as his Kanes Pass (25-1-14-1) came good under in-form apprentice Ronal Whelan in the Claytonhotelgalway.ie handicap.
Sent to the head of affairs over a furlong out, Kanes Pass showed no signs of ­stopping on the uphill climb to the post, eventually registering a merited three-length verdict over Sharp and Smart.
Mick Halford and Shane Foley, who had to settle for the runner-up berth with Sharp and Smart, didn’t have to wait long for compensation when claiming the following Galway Oyster Hotel handicap with the 72-rated Sure Reef.
Yet another to employ front-running tactics, Sure Reef was well clear off the home bend and was never going to be caught after that as the 11-2 shot cruised home three lengths in front of 11-4 favourite Encrypted Message.
Dermot Weld followers, fresh from rich pickings earlier in the evening, weighed into his well-fancied 9-10 favourite Silver Concorde in the concluding pillohotel.com bumper.
However, Robbie McNamara’s mount had no answer to Jim Bolger’s Cul Baire (5-2), who swept through on the inner on the final turn under Patrick Mullins for a comfortable seven-length victory over the disappointing market leader.