Clooney-born, Ennis-based accountant Pat Clune had good reason to celebrate as the horse he part owns, Top Cat Henry (5/1), ran out a good winner of the two and a half-mile Ferrycarrig Maiden Hurdle at Wexford last Friday evening.
Clune has established quite a successful partnership with Kilkenny trainer Kieran Purcell and Top Cat Henry, named after legendary Kilkenny hurler Henry Shefflin, did the duo proud when taking this 16-runner contest with ease.

Robbie Moran did the steering aboard the son of Dr Massini, who won his maiden at Bellharbour point-to-point last February, and he produced the five-year-old with a perfectly timed challenge when forging to the front at the final flight before staying on resolutely to beat Silver Tassie by a length and three-quarters.

Purcell, a noted hurler who won two All-Ireland hurling medals with the Cats in the ’70s, was thrilled with the winner’s display, saying, “He did that well and was probably short of a bit of work when second the last day at Gowran as he was only back in a couple of weeks that time and needed the run.

“He’s a good horse who seemed to really enjoy himself today and we’ll go to Galway with him now for a novice hurdle over two and a half miles.  I think he’ll come up that final hill well on nice ground,” added the Windgap handler.

Elsewhere on the card at the south-eastern venue, the honours went to Enniscorthy trainer Paul Nolan who completed a 105/1 treble.

The Nolan bandwagon kicked off in the Carrickbyrne Handicap Chase where 7/2 shot Acapulco Gold did the business under champion jockey Davy Russell.

The winner had his task eased considerably when 5/2 favourite Drumlister unseated Garrett Malone at the final fence when in with every chance, leaving Acapulco Gold clear to beat runner-up Aces and Kings by 10 lengths.

Half an hour later the Russell/Nolan combination were back in the number one berth as the Gigginstown House-owned 13/8 shot Far Away So Close came out the right side of a good battle with 5/4 favourite Northern Bay to land the Hook Head Chase.

The top two in the market dominated this five-runner event with second favourite Far Away So Close finding that bit more closer home to deny the Eddie O’Connell-ridden runner-up by a length and three-quarters.

The concluding bumper provided Nolan with his third winner as The Mooch made the running under an enterprising ride from Harley Dunne.

Dunne has seen a huge revival in his fortunes since regaining his amateur status and, having been crowned champion novice rider on the point-to-point circuit back in June, the Wexford rider, who bagged 15 winners as a conditional rider during a spell in the professional ranks, is great value for his seven-pound claim.

Sent off at 8/1, the successful son of Bach had to dig deep from the furlong pole when strongly pressed by Kieran Purcell’s Quinville Castle but when push came to shove The Mooch had enough in the tank as he ran on best to deny Paul Power’s mount by two lengths.

Drama as Palm grabs Plate trial

Noel Meade’s 20/1 chance Another Palm staged a dramatic late surge to land the Bet Online At thetote.com Galway Plate Trial Handicap Chase at Limerick last Sunday.

A poor third at the final fence, the blinkered son of Great Palm seemed destined for minor money at best as Liam Burke’s Supreme Doc swept into what looked an unassailable lead under jockey Paddy Mangan.

There was to be high drama, however, as Supreme Doc stopped as if he was shot halfway up the run-in allowing Great Pam and long-time leader Our Girl Lucy sweep past. This duo then battled it out close home with the Robbie Power-ridden Another Palm finding all the way to the line to edge out Our Girl Lucy by a nose. Supreme Doc was a further half a length back in third.

The winner, who goes up 4lbs to a revised rating of 118 over fences following Sunday’s success, may well line-up in the Plate at Ballybrit at the end of the month.

Knockcroghery is proving a revelation since going in foal and the John Nicholson-trained mare landed her second race in less than 72 hours when claiming the At The Races Rated Hurdle.

Successful on the flat at Bellewstown on Friday night, this daughter of Pelder showed no signs of tiredness as she batted gamely when tackled by 7/4 favourite Pires well inside the final furlong to hold on and score by a short head.

In foal to Fame And Glory, the winner is proving a real money-spinner for her Johnstown, County Kilkenny-based owner/trainer/breeder who suggested his mare may well bid for a big-race double in the Amateur Handicap and the Galway Hurdle at Galway in three weeks time.

The Lady Granuaile is another mare Ballybrit-bound following her shock 20/1 success under Alan Crowe in the Limerick.ie Mares’ Beginners’ Chase.

Trained in Craughwell by Pauline Gavin, The Lady Granuaile survived in what was a grief-stricken affair as she edged past runner-up Sox’s Girl at the final fence and stayed stoutly up the run-in to record a three-length success.

Local trainer Michael Hourigan rarely leaves a Limerick fixture empty-handed and the Patrickswell handler was on the mark in the Limerick GAA Supporters’ Chase where 13/8 favourite What’s Happening needed all of Barry Geraghty’s urgings to land the odds.

The winner looked to have it all to do when labouring somewhat at various stages during this three-mile contest, but Geraghty got after his mount, which eventually got to the front and ran on strongly to deny runner-up Original Option by a length.

Racing opened with a smooth success for the aptly-named Wexford raider River Slaney who scored for trainer Liz Doyle and jockey Adrian Heskin in the two-mile maiden hurdle.

Easy to back in the ring at 14/1, the successful son of Classic Cliché was not going to be denied as he went on at the final flight and exerted his authority when staying on gamely to deny Jim Dreaper’s Sizing India by two lengths