Family affair at Bellewstown as La Sylvia wins

THERE was a real family flavour about the result of the feature race at Bellewstown on Friday evening and it was all due to the McDonogh clan from Moynalty. Trainer Des and his son, former champion flat jockey Declan, teamed up to land the Kilsaran Handicap in fine style with La Sylvia to scoop over €16,000 for the connections. La Sylvia was sent off as the 11/4 favourite and made all the running over the minimum five-furlong trip at the hillside track. The trainer nominated the Rockingham Stakes at the Curragh next weekend as a possible target - 'if she gets in' - he commented as he savoured the atmosphere in the winners enclosure. 'I was just wondering whether she"d like the track here at Bellewstown, it"s so different to the Curragh which she loves, but she handled it very well,' stated the trainer. 'It"s very important to break well here and Declan said that from stall two he was going to get the favoured left rail which she likes. She ran very well at the Curragh when she was up against older horses, but this was her own age group this evening. ' I thought the handicapper, for once, treated her well because she was highly rated as a two-year-old. 'I had to let her run today, it"s nice to have a good horse that someone like Declan wants to ride, he"s in demand and it"s hard to get him, but hopefully now we can head for the Rockingham at the Curragh,' he concluded. That victory on La Sylvia completed a double for Declan McDonogh who also won on Mt Weather over the fast five furlongs. There was also another winner for Ger Lyons when Turk followed up on his recent Down Royal win for South African jockey Keagan Latham. Stamullen trainer Tom McCourt was also on the mark for owner Fergal Gaughran from Crossakiel, the man who brought the 'infamous" Ballinger Ridge to Ireland a couple of years ago for a campaign over hurdles. Tara amateur Andrew Duff was seen at his best in the concluding race when he got the Ted Walsh-trained Paramount home ahead of the rest in an amateur race. Paramount appears to like the Meath track as he last won a race in August 2007 at Bellewstown when he beat the Gordon Elliott-trained Salford City Lyons and Latham teamed up to record a nice victory on the opening day of the Bellewstown festival also when they landed a maiden event with 7/4 joint favourite Nice Style which had a comfortable five lengths to spare at the post. Also on Thursday Nina Carberry was on the mark when she won the last race, but she was suspended for one day following an incident at the start of the fifth race The Stewards received a report from the starter that all the riders had disobeyed his instructions. Another Meath rider who was involved in the incident was Duff. . The concluding day on Saturday saw Noel Meade"s promising hurdler Jewel Of The West re-appear and he followed up on his Punchestown win from last May by landing a novice hurdle in fine style under Paul Carberry. The 5/4 favourite took up the running approaching the last flight and went away for a comfortable victory. There was another Royal County success when the aptly named Lucky At Last was just that in the Seamus Mulvaney handicap hurdle for Slane-based trainer Pat Martin who is enjoying a good run since he moved to his new home. Previously, Martin trained outside Navan at Garlow Cross, but moved to Slane a couple of months ago. Josh Byrne was on board the 25/1 shot which was winning for the first time in nine attempts. Declan McDonogh was back in the winners" enclosure again when he brought the well-named Funatfuntasia home in front of the rest of the field for trainer Joanna Morgan in a 60-90 handicap. Racing returns to the Co Meath track for a two-day festival on Wednesday, 27th and Thursday, 28th August.