Geraghty dictates at Ascot

Barry Geraghty, who won the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotels 2010 Outstanding Achievement title last month at the annual awards, had a day to remember at Ascot on Saturday when he completed a magnificent four-timer. Trainer Nicky Henderson provided the ammunition as Geraghty delivered the goods that included the two most valuable contests on the card. The highlight was undoubtedly his wide-margin success in the grade one Ascot Chase on the strongly-backed Riverside Theatre. The Meath rider also won the Reynoldstown Novice Chase with Master of the Hall and went on to further success with Sprinter Scare in a novice hurdle and Mono Man in the last event, a national hunt flat race. Navan owner and businessman Eamonn Duignan was also in the winner's enclosure last week when all-conquering Willie Mullins won the opening race at Gowran for the Meath man with Tawaag which may go to Cheltenham. Duignan was on the mark at Naas on Sunday when Johnny McGeeney, won the opening maiden hurdle and a race at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival is the target. Duignan also bred the horse. The Robbie Hennessy-trained Rubi Light, who has been backed by connections at 200/1 for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, won the grade two Red Mills Chase at the Kilkenny track for Ashbourne jockey Andrew Lynch. Athboy woman Liz Lawlor saw her star novice from last year Dunguib return to winning ways in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle for jockey Brian O'Connell. According to trainer Philip Fenton, Dunguib "was an extremely sick horse five or six weeks ago" and the Champion Hurdle remains the target. Gordon Elliott maintained his good strike-rate with a grade two winner at Naas on Sunday where Roi Du Mee recorded an authoritative two lengths success under Davy Russell. Kilmessan jockey Jason Maguire was on the mark with Champion Hurdle contender Peddlers Cross in a hurdle at Kelso on Thursday. Sent off the 1/6 favourite, Maguire was 11 lengths clear of the front-running Bygones Of Brid in second place. Paul Carberry found himself embroiled in controversy at Punchestown on Wednesday after he finished second with the Elliott-trained Martin Scruff (1/2) in a handicap hurdle behind the Andrew McNamara-ridden Turnonthegas trained by John Carr in Kilcloon. Carr also saddled the third home here, Dunroe Boy. Martin Scruff was delivered with typical patience by Carberry, but when eventually asked for maximum effort couldn't reel in Turnonthegas. Carberry was subjected to some heckling from punters as he returned to the parade ring and was subsequently severely cautioned by the stewards. Local enthusiasts will have plenty of action on their doorstep this week with Fairyhouse on Wednesday (first race 1.50) and two days at Navan on Friday (1.40) and Saturday (2.05), all due to rescheduling of fixtures due to the inclement weather. There will be a replacement meeting at Naas on Wednesday 9th March and the Gowran Park meeting scheduled for Wednesday 30th March will be transferred to Saturday 2nd April.