Mcdonogh and mcloughlin on the mark at leopardstown twins win at down royal
It was big day for Meath trainers Des McDonogh and Dermot McLoughlin at Leopardstown today on the opening day of the traditional Christmas Festival where Gordon Elliott was in double form and jockey Robbie Power also on the mark.
All those results translated into Meath domination with a Royal County flavour for five of the seven winners with Christopher Jones the owner of the bumper winner.
The Meath theme was also in evidence at Down Royal where Ardcath twins Anthony and Ger Fox completed a fine double apiece with Noel Meade and Gordon Elliott on the mark.
The twins recorded an incredible double, double with Ger successful for Noel Meade with Down Aceand later with Coney Choice. Anthony won with Ardmillan for trainer Stuart Crawford and also with Rushvale (20/1) in the bumper.
Moynalty handler Des McDonogh has enjoyed success in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in the past and could be heading to the Festival next March with Fiscal Focus which was a 33/1 winner in the grade two €40,000 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle.
Owned by Jackie Bolger and formerly trained by Jim Bolger, Fiscal Focus ran three times as a juvenile last year and earlier this year won a Leopardstown maiden and then won at Killarney, both times for jockey Kevin Manning.
Today, Fiscal Focus was running for the first time over hurdlers for his new trainer and had two lengths to spare at the line from 4/7 favourite Kalkir trained by Willie Mullins.
Dermot McLoughlin's winner had less to spare at the post with a nose the oficial verdict after Westerners Son arrived late to win a 80-116 handicap hurdle.
Elliott landed the €85,000 Racing Post Chase with Clarcam (Bryan Cooper) and completed the double in the bumper when the Christopher Jones-owned Space Cadet followed up on a good debut run at Navan last month to win the concluding race.
The other Meath winner was provided by Robbie Power who won a maiden hurdle for Jessica Harrington with Rock On The Moor.
Despite the inclement weather, there was a huge crowd at leopardstown with the €16,000 jackpot now won and carried over to tomorrow. The Tote returnes for the day amounted to €380,000 (last year €118,000).
BARRY GERAGHTY
Meath jockey Barry Geraghty was in action at Kempton Park today, but on this occasion he didn't make it into the winners' enclosure with his best effort a second place finish on Theinval for trainer Nicky Henderson.
Geraghty will remain in England tomorrow with six rides at Kempton and he will be in action at Leopardstown on Sunday, the third day of the Festival.