Cork Racing: 50-1 winner for Cork jockey Philip Enright

CORK jockey Philip Enright, somewhat unlucky in the rated hurdle, sprung a 50/1 shock in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle at Cork Racecourse on Saturday. 

He produced Jolie Jewel to win on only her second start for Clare trainer Bryan McMahon. She had run well when in mid-division in a much better race at Leopardstown at Christmas. 

She'd finished 12th of 28 behind the well-touted No Flies On Him that day. She took advantage of a drop in class to land this race by two and a half lengths. Rosalys who'd won a Huntingdon bumper for Emma Lavelle, was all the rage in the market. She disappointed somewhat, finishing third under Rachael Blackmore, having been well supported from 7/4 into 5/4.

DOUBLE

The multi-talented Wexford jockey Sean Flanagan fresh from a terrific Punchestown Festival kept the momentum going at Cork Racecourse. On another beautiful May afternoon bathed in sunshine at the Mallow venue, Flanagan landed the opening two contests. 

He was aboard Palamon (2/1) in the opening Paddy Mac Maiden Hurdle for fellow Wexford native Paul Nolan. He followed up in the Rated Novice Hurdle on Master Otis (10/3) for Tom Mullins.

Flanagan is the very essence of the ultimate multi-tasker. Not alone is he a top-class jockey but last year, he took over the on-course valeting business for jockeys. He took over at Killarney and Tipperary last October having purchased the business from Robbie and Paul Fox.

Flanagan has no plans to stop riding but the valet business is seen as a long-term secure investment. Also an accomplished pilot, he would like to be a commercial pilot once his riding career has finished.

He's currently riding at the peak of his powers so that might be put on hold for the time being. He flew over to this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

He first started flying around five years ago and since then has flown over to the UK for the big racing festivals – taking several colleagues with him along the way.

HEADLINER 

Palamon had been second at Limerick recently, in a race notorious for the huge gamble brought off on Rocky's Treasure (100/1 to 22/1). 

He Palamon made headlines of his own at Cork in the opener. He led before the last and despite a minor error, he kept on best in the closing stages. Formerly trained by Richard Hannon he relished the better ground and comfortably fended off the well-supported market leader Trustyourinstinct (11/10). His jumping technique remains very much his Achilles heel.

Flanagan completed a quickfire opening race double on Master Otis in the Buy Tickets Online At www.corkracecourse.ie Rated Novice Hurdle for Tom Mullins. He made significant headway three out and assumed control at the last on route to beating Sequoiaspirit by a comfortable three lengths. 

Tony Martin's well-backed 2/1 favourite Ossie's Lodge was bang in contention until fluffing his lines at the second last. That sealed his fate, fading into seventh.

Anyway who'd landed a monumental gamble at Downpatrick last August recorded his first victory since that iconic afternoon when he took the Follow Us On Twitter Handicap Hurdle at 8/1.

He'd been bought by Charles Byrnes for €20,000 as a three-year-old and is now trained by Ken Budds. Today he recorded a two-length success over Henry De Bromhead's Ring Of Roses.