Ability helps McNamara deliver double; BELLEWSTOWN Friday.

Byline: Tony O'Hehir

Star performance Emmet McNamara, last year's champion apprentice, rode a double EMMET MCNAMARA, champion apprentice last year, took the riding honours with a double courtesy of Ability N Delivery in the 5f (47-65) handicap and Palazzone, trained by his boss Ger Lyons, in the 5f three-yearold handicap.

Ability N Delivery, who won by a head, was a first success for trainer Michael Browne, who took out his licence at the beginning of the year.

"He's always shown me plenty at home and has come good at last. He'll go for another sprint at Tipperary in a couple of weeks," said Browne, a former jump jockey who has worked closely with his brother, Willie, in the yearling and breeze-up business for many years.

Palazzone, twice a winner at Dundalk last year, got off the mark for the season when getting up to foil Calm Bay by a head.

"He didn't really handle the track, but his class got him there. I'm delighted for Emmet. The way the cards have fallen recently, Keagan [Latham] has been riding most of the winners," said Lyons.

John O'Shea was thinking of the future after Kimberely Bay had made most, under Shane Gorey, to beat Marcus Galerius in the 1m two-year-old maiden.

"She's been schooled over hurdles, jumps well, and that will be her long-term aim," said O'Shea, who intends to run the filly in nurseries for the time being.

Napa Starr unseated Declan McDonogh and ran loose before the 1m (47-65) handicap, but the Charles Byrnes-trained fiveyear-old justified the decision to allow him to run by storming to a five-length win.

The Michael Fitzgerald-trained Star Wood, off the track with leg trouble from July 2007 until March of this year, made all to win the 1m5f amateur riders' conditions race under Mark Fahey, beating the favourite Valain, ridden by Nina Carberry, by a length.

On what he had shown over hurdles, 25-1 could be considered a stingy price for Gallery Man in the 2m1f maiden hurdle. However, the Val O'Brien-trained grey was a little lucky to run out an easy winner in the hands of Andrew Lynch. Race leader On My Own fell at the final flight when looking the likely winner.

The Joseph Fox-trained Lightening Sky, a reserve for the 2m1f handicap hurdle, ridden by Keith Coleman, made good use of the opportunity to run when beating Ecole D'Art by a head.

John Egan was given a two-day careless riding ban following a stewards inquiry into an incident soon after the start of the 1m juvenile maiden.

Egan's mount, Gilbertstown Lass, was found to have caused interference in which Milvian Bridge, ridden by Declan McDonogh, was the worst sufferer.