Local rider Mark Scallan was a terrific form at his local Lingstown track today where he rode two winners on perfect racing ground with showers of sleet and hail keeping the spectators well wrapped up.
Scallan got off the mark with Costalotmore, which he also trains for local owner-breeder Desmond Ellard by one length in the maiden race for five year old geldings. “He will go for a ‘winners’ or a bumper next,” said Mark.
Scallan’s second winner came on Spanish Leather, also trained locally by Brian Jordan at Rathangan, by three lengths in the Rostoonstown Stud Winners of Two race.
Fifteen runners went to post for the Hearne Line Marketing Open Lightweight Race over the famous Lingstown ‘Banks Course’ and with a variety of obstacles, including the return of a stone wall and moved closer to the spectactors, it was a sporting spectacle and the richest point-to-point race ever run in this country with a prize fund of €3,050.
Victory went to Festival Opera who was bought from the late Wiliam Codd, Mayglass, and now owned by Denis Beary and trained by Philip Dempsey in Carbury, Co. Kildare.
Ridden by Luke McGuinness Festival Opera jumped very well and had fifteen lengths to spare over the Jim Dreaper trained Venitian De Mai (Jamie Codd up) and will now be trained for a crack at the Ladies Cup during the April Punchestown Festival.
The maiden race for four year olds went the way of Bravemansgame, bought from Richard Busher, Wexford, now trained by Donnchadh Doyle for the Ballindaggin Monbeg Syndicate and well handled by James Walsh. Eight lengths was the winning margin.
Bernadette Murphy, Blackwater, saddled Ard Abhainn in the maiden race for five year old mares and with Kevin Corrigan up held on for a one and a half length victory.

MARK SCALLAN rode at double at Lingstown. (Pic; WexfordToday.com).

Bred by Jim Mernagh, Coolamurray, Davidstown, Ard Aobhinn is a smart mare successful on her first run and will go to the sales.
The final race was for six year old and upwards maidens with 15 runners facing the starter and victory went to Knockenagh, trained at Kilmeaden, Co. Waterford, by Bernard Crowley, and winning by eight lengths under Paul Power.
During racing a minutes’ silence was observed as a mark of respect for three friends of the Killinick Harriers recently deceased – Stephen Lawlor of The Hideout, Hunt member Brian Clooney, and long serving racing photographer John Ellard.
ANOTHER SUNDAY DOUBLE FOR JIMMY O’ROURKE
Fresh from a double at Borris House last Sunday, Jimmy O’Rourke, Clonard, travelled to Belclare, near the Galway town of Tuam, and recorded another Sunday double today.
O’Rourke was aboard Falethao D’Ana for the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership and Ballindaggin handler Cormac Doyle in the maiden race for four year olds and they won by 18 lengths.
Tuff Times provided O’Rourke with his second winner of the afternoon for Clare handler Joseph Ryan in the maiden race for five and six year old geldings. Two lengths the winning margin.
Barry O’Neill travelled to Thurles and had two winners there. He joined forces with Donnchadh Doyle on Michael Murphy’s Sonru and this association resulted in an easy victory by 25 lengths.
O’Neill made it a double in the Winner of One race on Cool Dove, a 12 lengths winner trained at Kiltealy by Colin Bowe, who was enjoying an across the board double.
Also at Thurles Denis Murphy of Ballyboy Stables, The Ballagh, saddled Hold That Thought in the maiden race for four year old geldings and achieved victory by ten lengths in the hands of Simon Cavanagh.
Colin Bowe saddled Java Point in the four year old maiden race at Lismore and give Luke Murphy, Inch, Gorey, an easy 15 lengths success.
Pierce Power, Loftus Hall, Fethard-on-Sea also enjoyed the west Waterford air and saddled Seaside Girl to a 15 lengths win in the maiden race for maiden mares and a winner for rider Rob James, who also had a winner at Kirkistown on Saturday.