'Onwards and upwards' for team Hogan as he strikes with 84-1 double

Wednesday: Dundalk

County Tipperary trainer Denis Hogan landed an 84-1 double at Dundalk on Wednesday, which was headlined by Robert Whearty riding his first winner for him on Royal Tribute in the opening 7f claimer.

Hogan's fine day began with victory as Whearty took advantage of his sole ride on the day when the four-year-old struck by half a length.

"He travelled lovely into the straight," Whearty told Racing TV. "Thankfully it [first ride for Hogan] was a winner. Hopefully it’ll be onwards and upwards. Denis told me that the horse has been working well, it’s just a matter of luck."

The Hogan-trained Jaafel landed successive wins over course and distance in the mile handicap when seeing off Skontonovski by three lengths.

He had been 17 runs without a win before his previous success in November, but the 15-2 shot landed the spoils once more under Joey Sheridan.

"Dan King gave him a peach of a ride the last day and that got his confidence up," said Sheridan.

"I rode him with confidence and he won how he liked. He's a grand horse and he’s always worked well, it’s more confidence than anything else."

In fine tune

Joseph O’Brien has been in fine form in the past fortnight and registered another winner when Elusive Tune won the 7f auction race.

Mikey Sheehy took the ride following a debut sixth three weeks ago believes the filly will be capable of more over further distances.

Joseph O'Brien: in fine form recentlyCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"She’s not overly big, but she’s tough”, said Sheehy. "She’s got the right attitude and a will to win. I think she’d enjoy a step up in trip and a bit of ease in the ground."

The win took O'Brien's strike-rate to 21 per cent over the last fortnight over jumps and on the Flat.

Keane strikes

Champion Flat jockey Colin Keane landed another Dundalk winner as Shangrilama justified favouritism to record back-to-back wins in the mile Nursery.

The extra furlong brought about more improvement for the Liam Queally-owned filly, as the 5-2 favourite scored by a half-length.

"She’s probably improved from the last day," said Keane. "She’s very game. She appreciates going that little bit further."

His championship rival Billy Lee landed a double, which began when the Andy Oliver-trained Cold Steel followed on from last week’s success at the track to win the 1m2½f handicap.

The pair secured another success when 8-1 shot Make Us Proud picked up readily to land the closing 1m4f Maiden.

Successful switches

Livingston Range benefitted from a drop in class to belatedly capture a first win since switching to trainer Leanne Breen in the second division of the 6f handicap.

It was not the only first-time stable win as the Siobhan Rutledge-ridden Inflection Point – formerly of Ado McGuinness – saw off Zig Zag Zyggy by a head to land the first division on his second start for John McConnell.

Results, replays and analysis

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