Owned by the Friends In Low Places Syndicate, the five-year-old Affinity Rock won the two and three-quarter-mile mares’ maiden hurdle at Killarney on Monday. Ridden by Danny Gilligan for County Meath-based Cian Collins, the 15/8 favourite made all the running to beat Liz Doyle’s 15/2 chance Former Flame by a length and a half. The winner was bred by Collins’ uncle Noel Collins.
A double for Mark McNiff saw him share the training honours at Sligo on Tuesday. The Strandhill handler shared his first success of the evening with County Dublin conditional jockey Paddy O’Brien as Moulane West scored an easy win in the two and a quarter-mile handicap hurdle and the local trainer’s second winner was Ilbdare which took the three-mile one-furlong handicap hurdle in the hands of Phillip Enright. The five-year-old was made the 15/8 favourite and he led after the omitted final hurdle to beat the Liam Cusack-trained Arrycan by a length.
Upcoming Fixtures
Cork – Tuesday, May 20 (First race 5.15pm)
Gowran Park – Wednesday, May 21 (First race 5.10pm)
Limerick – Thursday, May 22 (First race 5.05pm)
Downpatrick – Friday, May 23 (First race 5.10pm)
Curragh – Friday, May 23 (First race 4.55pm)
Curragh – Saturday, May 24 (First race 1.20pm)
Curragh – Sunday, May 25 (First race 1.20pm)
