Haven on the mark for mulvaney

Meath trainer Michael Mulvany was on the mark at Down Royal last night where Annagh Haven got the better of Oceania Queen, the two outsiders in the five-runner one-mile and two-furlong handicap, by a short-head.

“We’ve probably been running her over a bit far in her last few runs, that’s her real trip, she’s entered in the mares’ hurdle at Galway,” stated the trainer.

Ger Lyons produced his second two-year-old winner in two days at Down Royal when Colin Keane did the steering duties with 5/2 favourite Roibeard which had almost three lengths to spare over the Noel Meade-trained Dodgybingo.

Another Meath trainer, Gavin Cromwell, was rewarded for a patient approach with his 10-year-old As De Pique which won a third handicap chase in as many months at Wexford yesterday evening.

As De Pique didn’t see a racecourse until finishing down the field in a Galway bumper in 2012, but could now be on the way back to Ballybrit for a go at the Galway Blazers next week.

Moynalty trainer Des McDonogh is starting to turn out the winners again and at Limerick on Thursday his consistent Little Haarth won a maiden hurdle for jockey Paul Townend after finishing second in four of his last five efforts over flights.