Kinane takes double at Tipperary

Michael Kinane moved to the head of the Flat jockey's table when he completed a double aboard Hawk Wing and Chiming at Tipperary today. Chiming provided Charles O'Brien with his first winner of the year when prominent throughout to beat newcomer Mayara by two lengths in the seven furlong maiden.

O'Brien admitted afterwards: "She was entitled to win that on the form of her two outings this year, and we will try to get some black type for her now." Kinane, now one ahead of Pat Smullen on the seventeen winner mark, was also successful earlier on Hawk Wing in the seven furlong two-year-old maiden. The Woodman colt, backed from 4/7 to 2/7, overcame the challenge of Martin Gunne and Smuggler's Song, who dead-heated for second place.

Lord Grey put up a fine front-running performance on his debut over fences in the two mile novice, eased right down by Paul Carberry on the run-in to beat Ceannairceach by two-and-a-half lengths. Curragh trainer Dermot Kelly, who complemented the track on 'a good job watering', added: "That's his ground and his track (left-handed), and he will probably go for a winners race next." Carberry later doubled up when Young Whack also adopted front-running tactics in the two-and-a-half mile novice chase, driven out from the last to hold Mill Bank by four lengths.

Monty's Pass, runner-up in the Galway Plate last year, is again on course for the Ballybrit spectacular after heading Sparkey Smith after the last to score by three-and-a-half lengths in the handicap chase. Harry Rogers saddled his first juvenile winner when Minashki justified good support in the five furlong maiden. Eddie Ahern's mount, home-bred by Navan-based Christine Kiernan, made virtually all the running, and stayed on strongly from the furlong pole to beat Steaming Home by three lengths.

Kingsridge just held on by the minimum margin under the challenge of Right Honorable in the nine furlong auction race. This race was started by flag after the stalls failed to open due to a burnt wire when all the horses were loaded. Brutus McGregor got on top in the final 100 yards to beat Fore Or More by three lengths on his debut in the bumper.

Filed by Shane Murray