ON A big night for Sligo sport, a local jockey and trainer stole the limelight at Sligo Races on Thursday.

Trainer Mark McNiff sent out Sean Airgead to win the Leo McMorrow Memorial Handicap, much to the delight of local punters whose support ensured the horse was sent off at 4/1 co. favourite. Given an expert ride by Sligo man, Derek Fox, the winner was held up for much of the race before making a decisive move in the straight and then battling all the way to the line to hold off the challenge of the fast finishing Shabra Charity (6/1)

Sean Airgean won at Perth in May and was second on a recent visit to Sligo which put him in perfect shape for last week's win.

It was an appropriate success for the local jockey and trainer as the race is named in honour of the late Leo McMorrow, the Sligo born jockey won won the Aintree Grand National in 1940.

Thursday's fixture, the second of a highly successful two-day meeting, was dominated by top trainer, Willie Mullins, who recorded an impressive treble. Earl's Quarter (2/1 fav) won the opening Jogforjockeys maiden hurdle and Rattan (3/10 fav) followed up in the next race. Both winners were ridden by Paul Townsend. Mullins completed the three timer when Pickapocketor two (7/4 fav) won the Setanta Screens maiden hurdle.

The feature race on Thursday, the Guinness Sligo Handicap Hurdle, was won by the Philip Fenton trained, Resolute Bay (7/2). Robert Jones was aboard the winner.

Trainer Charlie Swan, who has a good record at Sligo, sent out Garryowen Oscar (12/1) to win the Martins town Opportun ity Maiden Hurdle while the concluding INH flat race went to 8/1 shot Madam Bovary, trained by WF Codd and ridden by Jamie Codd.

John Oxx made a rare visit to Sligo for the opening day of last week's two day meeting and was delighted to be on hand to see his runners fill the first two places in the feature event of the evening, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF fillies handicap.

The race was won by Cape of Good Grace, ridden by Niall McCullagh, while Sceal Nua, ridden by up and coming apprentice, Ben Curtis, was a close second.

'I don't know when I was here last. Sligo Races manager, Brian Kennedy, tells me it was the early 1980s' reflected Oxx afterwards. 'Both Cape of Good Grace and Sceal Nua are two nice filles and had their chance here'

Jockey Leigh Roche subsequently received a two day ban for careless riding on third placed Asiya.

The young jockey had better luck in the concluding Sligo Park Handicap ,however, producing a supremely confident ride on the Dermot Weld trained Teach Nua. The winner defied a 5lb penalty following a recent success at the Galway Festival and was eased down by Leigh in the closing stages to record a half length win voer thew Oxx trained Swampfire. Another Galway winner who made a successful visit to Sligo was Iron Major. Given a class ic ride by Johnny Murtagh, the winner came from last to first in the last furlong to score a thrilling neck win over Maarek. It was Murtagh's first outing at Sligo since 2006 and the win kept him in touch with Pat Smullen at the top of the jockeys' championship.

Trained by Eddie Lynan, Major Iron completed a hat-trick of wins with this impressive victory.

The meeting was also a memorable one for promising young apprentice, Ronan Whelan, who completed a double on the card.

He got the evening off to the perfect start when he rode Perfect Godess to victory in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EFB Auction Maiden. The 5/1 shot , trained by Brian Nolan, was winning at the 6th time of asking and was an impressive pillar to post winner.

Whelan made it a great double when Regressa A Mi (6/1) won out in a thrilling finish to the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Maiden. It was the first winner in four years for Co. Kilkenny based trainer Paul McEnery.

Joseph O'Brien, son of all conquering trainer, Aidan, also had a rewarding visit to Sligo, cutting out all the running on the John Murphy trained, Dearest, to win the 16th August at Sligo Handicap.

Trainer, Pat Martin, maintained his excellent record at the track when Ok Annie won the Ladies Day at Sligo Nursery Handicap. Conor Hoban gave the filly an impeccable ride, sprinting clear well inside the final furlong to win by a length and a quarter.