Mccoy magic at meath track on easter sunday

Easter Sunday at Fairyhouse and the punters' pal Tony McCoy thrilled the crowd when riding two winners in the colours of leading owner JP McManus, but it was a Meath man who won the opening race when Tony Martin took the maiden hurdle with Voices Of Spring.

A huge crowd flocked tghrough the turnstiles and that was reflecyed in the Tote returns for the day - €316,551 (seven races) compared to last year's €196,178 (eight races).

The focus today will be on the feature race - the Irish Grand National - and the message from Fairyhouse to racing enthusiasts is to get there early: first race 2.45. There is also racing at Fairyhouse tomorrow (Tuesday) with the first race at 3.25.

McCoy's wins included the inaugural running of the Grade 1 Ryanair Gold Cup with the Enda Bolger-trained Gilgamboa which held off the late run of The Tullow Tank.

Sir Scorpion had earlier won for the 19-time British champion jockey and trainer Tom Mullins in a handicap hurdle.

There was a British-trained winner of the Grade 1 mares’ novice hurdle as Bitofapuzzle comfortably landed the spoils for Harry Fry and Noel Fehily.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh were on the mark when Shaneshill got back to winning ways in the Grade 2 novice hurdle, Mullins got a second winner when newcomer Castello Sforza won the bumper forPearl Bloodstock, more associated with the Flat game.

David Splaine and Terence O’Brien landed the handicap chase with Ballyadam Approach.

 

 

CORK 

Dermot McLoughlin won the Cork National at the Minster track late last year and yesterday he was on the mark with Westerners Son which took the two-mile handicap hurdle under Conor Maxwell.

The Willie Mullins-trained On His Own ran out a good winner of the featured Grade 3 Imperial Call Chase from Roi Du Mee under David Casey.

Mullins secured another double as Tennis Cap made all the running under Danny Mullins to win the beginners’ chase. Trainer John Cullen and conditional rider Andrew Ring landed a big pot when Misty Lady took the €30,000 2m3f handicap hurdle in good style.

The JP McManus-owned The Living Beauty was an all the way winner of the opening maiden hurdle but the champion owner had to settle for second place with A Hardy Nailer behind the Willie Austin-trained Emcon in the mares’ maiden hurdle.

Gordon Elliott and Davy Condon, out of luck with Roi Du Mee, teamed up to win the three-mile maiden hurdle with Speed Demon from Bridies Boy while the husband and wife combination of Ross O’Sullivan and Katie Walsh landed the bumper with the impressive newcomer Call It Magic.