Pires wins - but Martin rules out Galway
“I don’t see any point in taking him to Galway after that, he wouldn’t come up the hill”, reported Martin.
This was a vintage display from the saddle by Davy Russell, as he bided his time on the favourite, a little 2’s to 5-4.
Hintsnallegations went on going to three out, but the winner came swinging on the bridle approaching the second last.
Pires, however, had to be bustled along heading to the last and winging the flight was vital, as he edged past to score by three parts of a length.
Said Martin: “He’s a good actioned horse and the better the ground the better he is. He has so much speed and just got home.
“I don’t know what to do, maybe I’ll drop him back to ten furlongs on the level. A flat track, like Cork or Aintree, is probably what he wants.”
Danny Mullins gave Pat Fahy’s Amana an enterprising drive to win the Dawn Omega Milk Maiden.
There was no pace in the contest for most of the journey and when Mullins made his move before the straight the rest were left fighting a losing battle.
Said Fahy: “That would not be her ideal ground. But she is tough and genuine and, if I have my way, will go jumping at some stage.”
Bookmakers got a screamer when long-absent Orpen Guama took the Dawn Milk Run Handicap Hurdle at 33-1, over 102-1 on the Tote.
Trained by Denis Leahy and partnered by Pierce Gallagher, the winner showed no ill-effects to bound well clear of Eyeffess to the tune of three lengths.
The seven-year-old hadn’t been seen for 729 days, not since finishing last in a contest at this meeting two years earlier.
Inis Ceithleann, who bolted in at Downpatrick on Tuesday, made a successful reappearance in the Killarney Grand Live Music Venue Handicap Hurdle.
Barry Geraghty was again in the plate, although it was far from easy on this occasion. Fly To Dubai held the call coming away from the last, but Inis Ceithleann found plenty for Geraghty pressure to sweep ahead close home.
Another who scored on Tuesday, this time at Killarney, Separate Ways, did the business as well in the Dawn Flavoured Milk Handicap.
Separate Ways won then by ten lengths and was raised a whopping 16lbs by the handicapper. He was able to run here off a paltry 5lbs penalty and, if the handicapper had got it right, was the proverbial certainty.
And so it came to pass. David Marnane’s charge was never out of second gear, in the hands of Colm O’Donoghue.
He cruised ahead well over a furlong out and was then eased right down to win by a totally unflattering three parts of a length.
Co Kildare handler, Seamus Fahey, produced a decent training performance when landing the Europe Hotel and Resort Handicap with Cybersnow.
The Royal Anthem gelding had been off for 294 days, but stripped fit and well on his first outing for Fahey.
Cybersnow came there cantering in the straight and only had to be bustled along by Shane Foley to beat Oodachee.
The John O’Connell Memorial Bumper saw the newcomer, The Chazer, and Barry O’Neill arrive on the line to grab the flattering Clarach.
