Paul Carberry moved to the head of the National Hunt jockeys table when partnering a near 38 to 1 double aboard Ratoath Gale and Dariole in the two feature races at a very misty Tramore yesterday evening.
Ratoath Gale heads for the paddocks after taking the Killone Estates Handicap Chase in good style, jumping to the front two out and keeping on well to beat Monty's Pass by four lengths.
"That's the third consecutive year she has won at this meeting. She is in foal to Pistolet Bleu, and that's her last race. It's a great way to bow out, and having Paul on board is worth a few £s", said local trainer John Queally.
Carberry, now two clear of Barry Geraghty on the 21-winner mark, earlier landed the Richard Power Handicap Hurdle on Dariole. The five-year-old gelding led before the last and, despite a blunder at that flight, kept on well to beat Touch Of Love by a length.
"That's his third win here as he also won maidens here on the Flat and over hurdles. He needs good ground, and is a real summer horse", said winning trainer Michael Halford, who added: "That is some compensation as Keepers Hill fractured a pastern this morning, and will be out for the rest of this year".
Pigeon Top benefitted from the addition of blinkers when sweeping to the front well inside the final furlong for Wayne Smith to land the Smithwicks Maiden. "He is a bit lazy, and the blinkers worked the oracle", said trainer Peter McCreery, who is considering turning him out again for a handicap at Tipperary on Saturday.
Tadhg O'Shea recorded his 16th win of the season when Fashions Dante just held the late surge of Star Councel by a neck in the Tower Hotel Group Maiden.
Jimmy Fortune was taken to hospital after a fall at Folkestone yesterday but appears to have escaped serious injury. Fortune's mount, Welenska, a two-year-old newcomer trained by Paul Cole, unseated him shortly after crossing the line. Cole's assistant trainer, Jim Boyle, said: "I've seen Jimmy and he's conscious and lucid".
