Phillip Enright set himself up for a big week when landing a double at Cork on Bank Holiday Monday where he rode winners for Thurles trainer Eddie Power and Conna’s Sean Aherne. The Power-trained seven-year-old Love At Sea ran out the gamest of winners of the opening mares’ maiden hurdle. Owned by Sean Dalton, the 5/2 chance led until headed by the Gavin Cromwell-trained 11/8 favourite Kabylia at the second-last hurdle but she battled back to lead again on the run-in to win by half a length. Enright followed up on Sean Aherne’s The Border Boy in the second division of the two-mile one-furlong handicap hurdle. A 17/2 chance, he raced out wide and held a clear advantage at the second-last hurdle as he beat Jonathan Fogarty’s 16/1 shot Bannow Blaze by two and three-parts of a length.
On the back of his four-winner haul at the Galway Festival, Jack Kennedy partnered the four-year-old Power Of Words to win the two and a half-mile maiden hurdle at Roscommon on Tuesday evening. Trained by Gordon Elliott, the 7/2 chance led at the second-last hurdle and the partnership were a length and a quarter too good for Philip Rothwell’s 7/1 shot Following Orders. Phillip Enright was back in the winners’ enclosure as Yosemite Gold ran out the 13/2 winner of the second division of the two-mile maiden hurdle. Trained by Eoin Doyle for owner Christina Hughes, the four-year-old headed Stuart Crawford’s 6/1 shot Bold Fury at the final hurdle and raced clear to win by a length and three-parts.
Enright rode his fourth winner of the week when taking the two-mile five-furlong maiden hurdle on the Sam Curling-trained Lord Ffrench at Sligo on Thursday. Owned by Mark Byrne, the 13/8 favourite led after the final hurdle to beat the Donncha Duggan-trained 4/1 chance Luck Between Us by a length and a quarter.
Owned and trained by Aengus King, Chosen Saint won the two-mile one-furlong mares’ handicap hurdle at Wexford on Friday evening, another winner for Phillip Enright. The 9/2 chance led after the third-last hurdle and scored by a length and three-parts from Jimmy Barcoe’s 12/1 shot Influential Lady.
The six-year-old Hardy Diamond landed her second Kilbeggan success when taking the three-mile one-furlong handicap chase on Saturday evening. In the colours of the Cullentra Racing Club, the 6/1 chance got up in the final stride to win by a head for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy from Enda Bolger’s 5/1 shot Pride Of Place.
Phillip Enright brought his tally for the week to seven winners when sharing a double with trainer Sam Curling at Downpatrick on Sunday. The 7/4 favourite Wing Back won the two and a quarter-mile handicap hurdle with the minimum of fuss to give the pair their first success of the afternoon. Owned and bred by Pius Collins, the five-year-old led before the final hurdle and went away to win by four and a half lengths from Ian Donoghue’s 9/2 chance Parkgarve. Enright and Curling were back in the number one spot after the six-year-old Fire Coral scored a far narrower win in the two and three-quarter-mile handicap hurdle in the colours of the Keep It Pucked Out Syndicate. The 7/2 joint-favourite got it a little wrong at both the penultimate and final hurdles but she stuck to her task well and led in the final strides to pip the Noel Kelly-trained 9/2 shot Tiny Angel by a neck.
Upcoming Fixtures
Gowran Park – Wednesday, August 13 (First race 5.05pm)
Cork – Thursday, August 14 (First race 5.22pm)
Tramore – Thursday, August 14 (First race 5.05pm)
Tramore – Friday, August 15 (First race 5pm)
Dundalk – Friday, August 15 (First race 1.45pm)
Curragh – Saturday, August 16 (First race 1.42pm)
Tramore – Saturday, August 16 (First race 5pm)
Tramore – Sunday, August 17 (First race 2.30pm)
