Longford horse trainer Paul Flynn lands big price winner at Killarney

Not for the first time this season, Longford horse trainer Paul Flynn and Leigh Roche combined for a big price winner at Killarney when ‘Only One Scobie’ popped up at huge odds in the mile handicap.

The trainer and jockey were responsible for 33-1 shot Nibras Rainbow scoring at the track in May and they went even better last Friday with this 50-1 chance doing the business.

‘Only One Scobie’, like his trainer, has been a profitable one to follow this season as he also obliged at 25-1 in June at Leopardstown.

The three-year-old made all the running to deny the fancied 9-2 hope Chapel Lane by just over a length.

Meanwhile, Darragh O’Keeffe delivered a contender for ride of the year as he displayed fantastic horsemanship and competitive instincts on Midnight Eagle at Sligo last Wednesday evening.

Vying for the lead jumping the second last flight of the 2m4f handicap hurdle, the saddle shifted markedly leaving the Cork jockey badly unbalanced. He had no option other than to remove his feet from the stirrups approaching the final hurdle.

Midnight Eagle jumped that cleanly and, to her credit, fought on well to a half-length victory at 4-1.

“It was my only chance of winning the race, to get out of the irons,” O’Keeffe said modestly.

“I had years with Enda Bolger and he would teach you all those things about riding.”

Rathconrath trainer Andrew McNamara added, “She's a very narrow, light filly. Darragh was riding light as well, so she had a small saddle, but at least that meant the breastplate stuck to her good and tight.

“Things will be getting harder for her after this, but she's very game and if we can keep the saddle straight on her, she might win another!”