Billy Lee makes it to 45 winners for the season | Weekly Racing News

BILLY Lee brought his tally for the season to 45 winners when teaming up with Ken Condon to land the five-furlong maiden on Dancing Rebel at the Curragh on Thursday.

Owned and bred by Shane Molan, the 5/2 chance comfortably held off the Andy Slattery-trained Special Power by score by three-parts of a length with Aidan Oโ€™Brienโ€™s 10/11 favourite a length and a half away in third place.

Billy Lee and Dancing Rebel were winners for trainer Ken Condon at the Curragh on Thursday. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post

A youngster celebrating at Tramore on Thursday was Cratloeโ€™s Mark McDonagh, who rode the first double of his career on back-to-back winners trainer by Mark Fahey and Sean Oโ€™Brien.

The brace took McDonaghโ€™s tally for the season to eight, and he set the ball rolling with success on the Fahey-trained Coolnacritta in the two-mile handicap hurdle.

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A late replacement for the injured Mike Oโ€™Connor, McDonagh made the most of the opportunity as he brought the strong 11/10 favourite home two and a quarter lengths to the good over the Edward Oโ€™Grady-trained 2/1 chance Downthecellar.

It was a little tighter as McDonagh won the maresโ€™ maiden hurdle on the Sean Oโ€™Brien-trained Nellโ€™s Well, the 7/2 chance beating Gordon Elliottโ€™s Motown Maggie by half a length.

Chris Hayes set himself up for a very rewarding weekend when riding the final winner of the night at Dundalk on Friday. He completed a double for veteran trainer Kevin Prendergast when partnering 6/1 chance Bears Hug to success in the six-furlong handicap.

The Erindale Syndicate-owned three-year-old led inside the final furlong to beat 5/2 favourite Plezantlysurprised by half a length.

The Noel Meade-trained Lady Of Inishfree and Chris Hayes beat Corporal Violette to win the Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final at Naas on Sunday. Photo: Caroline Norris/Racing Post

Hayes was the star performer at Naas on Sunday where he rode three winners in a row to bring his seasonโ€™s total to 54 winners, just three short of his highest tally of 57, set in 2018.

Dermot Weld supplied the first of them in the near six-furlong maiden where Pearle Dโ€™Or, owned and bred by Moyglare Stud Farm, made a winning debut. Hayes brought the 13/2 chance from off the pace to beat the Michael Oโ€™Callaghan-trained El Magnifique by two and a quarter lengths.

It was a little tighter as Hayes and Noel Meade combined to win the valuable Irish EBF Auction Series Race Final over seven furlongs with 7/2 shot Lady Of Inishfree. She readily held the late run of the Ger Lyons-trained 11/4 favourite Corporal Violette to win by half a length.

The Hayes treble was completed by the Meade-trained Elysium which scored a near-identical success in the Listed Garnet Stakes. In the famous George Strawbridge colours, the 9/1 shot saw off Joseph Oโ€™Brienโ€™s Emphatic Answer by the same margin.

Charles Byrnes landed a notable success at Cork on Sunday where Poseidon landed the โ‚ฌ40,000ย coopsuperstores.ieย Handicap Chase. Another big winner for Sean Oโ€™Keeffe, the 7/2 chance was nicely clear when far from fluent over the final fence.

He raced away to a three and a half-length win over the John Ryan-trained Grange Walk in the colours of owner Martin White. Byrnes said, โ€œthe handicapper gave him a chance. Iโ€™d say two-mile chases will be his job and good to soft ground is ideal. Sean is going very well; he is a great rider.โ€

Upcoming Fixtures

Gowran Park โ€“ Monday, October 18 (First Race 1.15pm)

Gowran Park โ€“ Tuesday, October 19 (First Race 1.15pm)

Navan โ€“ Wednesday, October 20 (First Race 1.15pm)

Thurles โ€“ Thursday, October 21 (First Race 1.15pm)

Dundalk โ€“ Friday, October 22 (First Race 4.45pm)

Sligo โ€“ Friday, October 22 (First Race 1.10pm)

Leopardstown โ€“ Saturday, October 23 (First Race 1.40pm)

Galway โ€“ Saturday, October 23 (First Race 1.20pm)

Galway โ€“ Sunday, October 24 (First Race 1.10pm)

Wexford โ€“ Sunday, October 24 (First Race 1.25pm)

The post Billy Lee makes it to 45 winners for the season | Weekly Racing News appeared first on Sporting Limerick.

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