Artic completes hat-trick
He is trained in Co Kildare by Peter Fahey, owned by his brother, Brendan, and was ridden by his brother-in-law, Andrew Leigh.
The seven-year-old was completing a hat-trick of successes and this was a decent effort, considering both of his rivals were in receipt of 5lbs.
Leigh soon had his charge bowling along in front and Pride Of The Artic jumped for fun.
Ballyadam Brook tried his case in the straight, but the winner never flinched and was well in control, even though getting in tight to the final fence.
Said trainer-Fahey: “I was a bit worried about giving away the weight, but he keeps improving.
“We will sit on the fence a bit now, but he will probably have to be stepped up to Graded company.”
The favourite, Sweet My Lord, ran no sort of race. He began to struggle badly coming away from the third last and was reduced literally to a walk in the straight. He was found to be post-race normal.
The Jim Gorman-trained Cest Notre Gris battled on dourly through the terrible ground to take the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Premier Nursery.
Wholelotofrosie looked the likely winner early in the straight, but being on the pace throughout took its toll and 3lbs claimer Ronan Whelan conjured a late surge from the winner to score by half a length.
Commented Gorman: “Kevin Manning could have ridden the horse, but suggested we put up Ronan to give him his best chance of winning. Mind you we thought Ronan would be claiming 5lbs at the time.
“Ronan gave him a great ride and is as impressive an apprentice as has come out of Ireland for a while.”
In the next, however, the Feale Handicap, Whelan was deprived of a double when Kanes Pass went under by a short head to Jappeli.
This was a real slow motion finish, with Kanes Pass looking sure to score entering the final furlong and then getting chinned in the dying strides by the Ross Coakley partnered winner.
“I’m delighted for Ross, he’s been on the wrong end of a couple of photos this season,” remarked winning trainer Ken Condon.
There was a sting in the tail for Coakley, though, and he was found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency and suspended for two days.
There was plenty of money on offer for the ITBA Fillies Scheme Hurdle, but it looked a woeful heat, with victory going to Paul Nolan’s Rising Time.
She has always been regarded as a top of the ground performer, including by her trainer, but stayed on for Michael Darcy to grab the lead at the last and beat Tropical Three by three parts of a length.
“That was a moderate contest,” remarked Nolan realistically. “She will probably go back over fences and we will try and win a mares’ beginners chase with her.”
Andrew McNamara introduced a son of the great Vinnie Roe, Stolberg, to take the Bumper.
Ridden by Jonathan Burke, enjoying a third success, Stolberg found loads through the final furlong to beat fellow newcomer, Shark Hanlon’s Giantofaman.
Stolberg carried the colours of McNamara’s wife, Kathleen, and the trainer said: “I would have fancied him no end if the ground was good. The plan now is to sell him and then, hopefully, keep the horse.”
The Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden looked a modest contest, but provided a ready winner in Paul Deegan’s Talitha Kum.
She was easy enough to back, despite going off favourite, but belied the apparent lack of confidence with a ten lengths success.
Talitha Kum bounced away in front and had this in safe keeping a long way out. It was a 45th winner of the season for Chris Hayes, who is enjoying a terrific campaign.
Mackey Boy, pulled up in his previous two races and trained by Pat Neville, took the Cashen Handicap Hurdle.
Tom Doyle drove him ahead between the last to flights and Mackey Boy kept pulling it out on the flat to hold Marshim by half a length.
The stewards inquired into the apparent improvement in form and noted the explanation offered by Neville.
