Michael Halford is never far away from the winner's enclosure these days, and he saddled a double at Roscommon yesterday with Chanoud and In The Forge.
The Paul Carberry-ridden Chanoud defied topweight in the Shannon Handicap Hurdle when heading Dajazar at the final flight to score by four lengths.
The Curragh trainer is now 11 ahead of his previous best total, with 38 winners under both codes this year after In The Forge gained a hard-earned victory under Philip Dempsey in the bumper.
Paul Carberry had to play second fiddle to his younger brother Philip in the three-mile Ballymurry Beginners' Chase where Precious Music made all for a facile victory.
There was no shortage of incident in the opening Lough Ree Maiden Hurdle. The 4 to 1 favourite, The Flying Mustang, ran out at the first hurdle, and another four of the 20 runners crashed out in front of the stands at the sixth. Chamonix fell while in the lead and brought down Coolteen Boy, Jolly Harvest and Mac An Ri.
The final flight had to be omitted on the next circuit as a result of the pile-up, and Brokey Belle slipped up as the remaining runners were squeezed for room when bypassing the hurdle. Indian Tom eventually came out on top, responding gamely to a strong drive from Kieran Gaule.
Oliver Brady's celebrations in the winner's enclosure have become part of Irish racing folklore and he didn't let racegoers down when loudly cheering after Balapour took the Tully Maiden in great style.
The Eddie Lynam-trained Fingal Nights finished with a flourish under Declan McDonogh to catch Minamala in the final strides of the Glenamaddy EBF Maiden.
