IRISH HEARTBEAT, the Ryedale horse who has his own dedicated page on Facebook, bids to increase his fan base at Newbury on Saturday.

Trained at Musley Bank, Malton, by Richard Fahey, the gelding won last month’s valuable Spring Mile at Doncaster and, this weekend, aims to complete a notable double in the Spring Cup at the Berkshire track.

Previously trained in Ireland by David Myerscough, Irish Heartbeat changed hands for 65,000gns at the Tattersalls Sales at Newmarket last October and his Doncaster victory was his first outing for the in-form Fahey.

He is looked after at Musley Bank by Nikki Hazell, who, bowled over by the character and likeability – not to mention talent – of the five-year-old, has set up a page for him on Facebook. Titled after his stable nickname, Irish Heartbeat goes under the name of the ‘Paddy Murphy Fan Club’ and, so far, has attracted some 40 members.

That number could multiply if he gains back-to-back wins on Saturday in another valuable handicap.

Raised 4lb for his Doncaster success, which was achieved in a photo-finish after he idled having struck the front, Irish Heartbeat promises to go well again.

Jockey Paul Hanagan learned a valuable lesson about his mount on Town Moor. “He pulled-up a bit with me in front. I’ll probably leave it later next time,” was the rider’s immediate reaction after the Doncaster close shave.

Saturday’s race is one which Fahey won 12 months ago with Extraterrestrial. A follow-up on Saturday would be a notable achievement, and would certainly increase the number of ‘hits’ on Paddy Murphy’s Facebook page!

•SUCCESS for Irish Heartbeat in the Newbury Spring Cup would continue a remarkable run of success for Fahey, who has been sending out winners left, right and centre since the Flat turf campaign kicked off on the last Saturday of March.

Five winners at the opening two-day Doncaster meeting got the Fahey stable up and running and the momentum has scarcely halted since. Within a matter of days, he had completed a juvenile double at Southwell – in two races which each carried a £10,000 bonus – and last week he followed up with a further flurry of winners.

Stable apprentice Marzena Jeziorek landed her second career win at Catterick aboard Trip The Light, while at Musselburgh, Fahey saddled a stupendous four winners and two seconds.

The success stories were Las Verglas Star, Orpen Arms – owned by a group of Fahey’s friends from Norton’s Derwent Arms – Goliath’s Boy and High Ambition.

All four were ridden by Paul Hanagan, who has stolen an early march in the jockeys’ championship by quickly establishing a clear lead over his rivals.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better start,” says the north’s top pilot. “Richard’s horses are running out of their skins and I’ve managed to pick up some outside winners as well.”

Hanagan, though, is typically not getting carried away with regard to pulling off a shock championship victory. “It’s a long season, and with reigning champion Ryan Moore, Richard Hughes, last year’s runner-up, Kieren Fallon, a former champion, and even Frankie Dettori suggesting that he is up for a crack at the title, it’s going to be a very tough championship to win,” he said. “I am just keeping my feet on the floor and,” he adds, “if I’m in front in the middle of October, I might just give myself a squeak.”

•IF truth be told, Highland Warrior probably knows more about racing than most of the rest of us put together. That said, the hero of 112 races, clearly retains a passion for the sport which he underlined at Musselburgh last Friday when, at the age of 11, he bounded home to record a five lengths success over the minimum distance of five furlongs.

Highland Warrior is one of the stalwarts of Paul Midgley’s Westow yard and the trainer paid tribute to him in the glowing light of his latest triumph, his 13th success in a career which started in 2001 and which saw him notch his first win in May of the following year at Ayr.

“He’s an absolute superstar,” said Midgley, following up after a 14-1 win with Dispol Grand at Catterick. “He’s now won over £100,000 and I only wish I had a stable-full of horses like him.”

Reflecting on the decisive margin of his latest success, the trainer added: “I hope the handicapper takes into account his age when he comes to reassess him!”

Highland Warrior was ridden to victory at Musselburgh by Paul Pickard, who also rode him to one of his two wins in 2009, a York victory last July when the apprentice enjoyed a red letter day by completing a Knavesmire double on Smarty Socks, a 33-1 chance.

•THE Musselburgh meeting proved a remarkably happy hunting ground for Ryedale runners. Apart from Fahey’s four winners, plus Highland Warrior from the Midgley yard, the other two races were also won by local raiders; the Alan Brown-trained Sudden Impulse and Zaplamation, who obliged for John Quinn and Ian Brennan.