Mourinho scores at Dundalk

Dunshaughlin-based trainer Eddie Lynam made a winning start to the new flat season when he won the opening race at Dundalk on Friday night. Lynam sent Mourinho to win the opening five-furlong handicap which was achieved despite conceding weight to his six other rivals. Ridden by top jockey Kevin Manning, Mourinho missed the break, but eventually hit the front a furlong out before scoring by half a length. The runner-up, Calm Bay, is trained by Ardee handler Harry Rogers. 'Mourinho should stay further and will either run over seven furlongs at Leopardstown or over six here next month,' stated the trainer. Apparently, the owner of the horse is a big supporter of Premier League side Chelsea, hence the name of Friday night"s winner. He also owns Duff which won the Platinum Stakes at Cork last year and is named after Damien Duff who left the club in 2006. The owner also had another Chelsea- themed horse in action at the Curragh on Sunday, a filly named Dasha. Dasha is named after Dasha Zhukova, the girlfriend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. Dasha the horse finished fifth behind the well-regarded John Oxx filly Zaralanta. There was also another local success at the Louth track on Friday night. Slane-based trainer Pat Martin was also smartly out of the blocks for the new flat season at Dundalk where he won a handicap with the well-backed 2/1 favourite Rassi Maguire. Jockey Fran Berry held his charge up towards the back of the field until approaching the final furlong and had a length to spare at the post. 'Rassi Maguire wintered well, hopefully the handicapper won"t be too harsh on him, a mile is probably his best trip,' stated the trainer. Moynalty jockey Declan McDonogh got off the mark for the new season at the Curragh on Sunday with the Kevin Prendergast-trained King Ledley (4/1) which drew clear of his rivals in the Tally Ho Stud EBF Maiden King Ledley was always up with the pace in the five-furlong contest and began to kick clear a furlong from home as McDonogh kept his mount up to his work to score by four and a half lengths from Chelsea Lately. The Goffs Million at the Kildare track later in the season will be his long-term target. Over the jumps, Noel Meade"s Oscar Looby (6-1), which was second to Kempes last time, won a novice hurdle at Gowran on Saturday. Emmet Mullins deputised for regular jockey Paul Carberry who is still on the sidelines following his fall at Cheltenham. Meade was pleased with the performance of Oscar Loody. 'He did it well, we probably waited with him a bit too long at Navan and he enjoyed the better ground,' said Meade. 'We will go for another novice hurdle at Fairyhouse or Punchestown and go chasing with him next season,' added the trainer. Cortown jockey Roger Loughran put in a good performance aboard the Dessie Hughes-trained Beneath The Radar to win a maiden hurdle at the Kilkenny track on Friday while Ashbourne jockey Andrew Lynch added to his tally for the season at Clonmel on Thursday when he won with Belladventure for Henry De Bromhead. Summerhill jockey Joey Elliott wasn"t so lucky and picked up a 14-day ban for insufficient effort on Eddie Dowling, which finished 10th in a maiden hurdle at Down Royal on St Patrick"s Day. The horse is owned, perhaps appropriately, by the Doomore Syndicate. The jockey was found to be in breach of Rule 212. Trainer, Gordon Elliott was found to have breached Rule 213, when failing to report a matter at Fairyhouse where Eddie Dowling last ran, that may have affected the horse"s performance. The matter was referred to the Referrals Committee.