Paul Carberry is now seven ahead of Ruby Walsh in the National Hunt Jockeys' Championship after teaming up with Noel Meade to take the opening two hurdle races at Sligo yesterday.
Midnight Lover was friendless in the betting ring (5 to 4 to 4 to 1) for the Strandhill Maiden Hurdle but belied the lack of confidence when heading Minister's Cross at the final flight for a comfortable four and a half length success.
"I can't understand how she was 4 to 1 as her best form is on soft ground. She will probably revert to the Flat for her next run," said Meade.
Punters latched onto Rhapsody Gale in the following Martin Reilly Motors BMW Rated Hurdle and the well-supported 6 to 4 favourite was driven past Twilight Buck on the run-in to put Carberry on the 24 winner mark for the season. Meade later completed a treble when Michael Mor took the bumper.
The jackpot pool of £2,424 was not won, and is carried forward to the next meeting here on August 29th, following the 20 to 1 victory of Daisy Dancer in the six-furlong Moat Handicap. The five-year-old led inside the final furlong under Tom Queally to beat Polish Legion by two lengths.
Polish Legion's rider Declan McDonogh, successful earlier in the two-year-old claimer with Chiomara, was given a five-day suspension (August 19th-23rd) for careless riding after Bens Secret and Windy Project were checked soon after the start.
