Special day for Josh Williamson as he guides home two winners from as many rides to secure his first double

Josh Williamson partnered two stylish winners from as many rides to secure his first double on the track. 

He steered the Gordon Elliott-trained Machismo and Rochestown for Brendan Walsh to decisive successes 35 minutes apart.

Machismo was getting off the mark at the seventh attempt in the 2m5½f maiden hurdle, seemingly relishing the testing conditions under Williamson, who guided him to an emphatic 25-length success over Unknown Entity at odds of 16-5 in the Gigginstown House Stud colours.

The 7lb claimer, who is the son of revered jump jockey Norman, has built up a good relationship with the Cullentra stable with 43 of his 106 rides coming for Elliott.

The rider said: "I think the heavy ground really helped Machismo as it was the first time he's run on proper heavy, loose ground. He jumped brilliantly the whole way, which helped me a lot, he only missed one at the top of the hill."

Williamson struck again in the next contest to land his tenth winner overall with his only other ride of the day as 7-4 favourite Rochestown ran out a cosy winner of the 2m5½f handicap hurdle, producing a clever turn of foot before the last to dart six lengths clear of Blue In The West.

The ten-year-old was continuing his love affair with the seaside track, this being his third win at Tramore having landed a handicap chase on this card 12 months ago and another in April.

"The whole way through the race, I was doing a half-speed," said Williamson. "I wasn't sure how well they were going behind me, but it seemed just a case of saying go on him with the way he jumped and travelled."

Reflecting on his first double, he said: "It's unbelievable. When I opened up the declarations a couple of days ago, I was delighted to see my name beside one, never mind two.

"Down the line, turning pro will be something I'd be thinking of, but I'm not in a hurry."

O'Sullivan at the double

Fresh from landing the feature race on Embassy Gardens, Michael O'Sullivan's afternoon got even better when he landed the 1m7½f novice chase on board 10-1 shot Be Fierce for Ted Walsh.

The eight-year-old landed a handicap hurdle at the track in October before finishing seventh at Gowran on his chase debut the following month. The step back in trip seemed to work the oracle as he travelled powerfully on the way to a length-and-a-half win over Splashing Out.

Rockbrook makes all

The Philip Rothwell-trained Rockbrook gained his third win when recording a six-and-a-half-length victory at odds of 9-2 in the 2m1f handicap hurdle, giving 5lb claimer Aidan Kelly a winner from his first ride for the yard.

"That's my first ride for Philip and it's a nice way to start off," he said. "He finished out the race very well. I only have seven or eight winners left on my 5lb claim, so I'll try to get down to 3lb this year and kick on from there."

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