Ballyholland powers to Ballybrit glory
“It’s great to get a big one to start off”, smiled the affable McNamara, whose brother, Robbie, landed the featured amateur handicap here on Monday night aboard Ghimaar.
“I got beaten a short head on a horse of Willie Austin’s here one day”, continued McNamara. “The camera-man told me I had won, so I headed for the winner’s enclosure.”
Well, there was no doubt on this occasion, as the Colin McBratney-trained Ballyholland battled on powerfully to do the business.
McBratney is based at Crossgar, Co Down and this was easily his biggest success to date. “We’ve mainly point-to-pointers, but have good summer horses this year and he is the best of them”, exclaimed the delighted handler.
Washington Lady powered ahead over the fifth last and grabbed a healthy advantage. But it’s a long way home round here and he was gone on the up hill run for home.
Ballyholland soon took over as Knock On The Head, who struggled for a lot of the journey and was out the back for the most part, began to stay on dourly.
The winner, however, had plenty in reserve and Knock On The Head just couldn’t get in any sort of real blow.
Said McNamara: “He didn’t really travel in the early stages, but I was much happier after four fences.
“His jumping was great and every time I needed a big one he gave it to me.”
Commented McBratney: “This is unbelievable. I thought he was a two and a half mile horse, but Andrew was the first to say he would stay two miles and six. I knew he was in good form but the ground terrified me.
“For a year we have been thinking we would be here, he is just a lovely, lovely horse. I have always thought he would jump a fence around Aintree and, maybe, the Becher Chase in November could be the plan.”
Knock On The Head was a huge order. All the 25-1 off-course dried up and the support continued on track.
Early offers of 16-1 found favour and he was a major plunge down to 9-1. He just took too long, however, to hit anything like top gear, although the each-way portions of the wagers were reasonably lucrative.
Ruby Walsh’s pessimism, regarding Paul Nicholls’ Roby De Cimbre, proved well founded and the grey never promised to deliver.
Willie Mullins and Walsh struck for the first time at the meeting when Tawaagg outclassed the opposition in the William Hill In Ireland Novice Hurdle.
He travelled like a dream through the contest, as Walsh moved him up behind front-running No Stopping Sarah coming away from the second last.
Tawaagg eased ahead shortly before the final flight and then stretched right away on the level to score by five and a half lengths.
Said Mullins: “He’s improved a lot and getting stronger. I’m not sure what to do next, but I don’t want to go handicapping for the moment. He could retun to the flat at Killarney.”
Mullins completed a double when his son, Patrick, guided Blackstairmountain to a smooth win in the williamhill.com-casino Maiden.
Patrick partnered the four-year-old with real confidence, only asking him to edge closer to the pace in the final half mile.
The winner and Miss Chaparral came there cantering approaching the home turn, but it was Blackstairmountain who had all the answers, quickly shooting four lengths clear.
Reported Mullins senior: “He was slowly out of stalls the last day at Leopardstown and we were worried about that.
“I am happy he has won and it will be out on grass now. He will come back late in the season and reappear around Christmas-time. I think he has the ability to make it at the top level over hurdles.”
Dermot Weld took his tally for the week to six when Precious Gem buckled down in fine style to take the williamhill.com-vegas Maiden.
Pushed ahead over a furlong out by Pat Smullen – this was his fourth of the three days – the daughter of Sadler’s Wells found loads for pressure to beat Are You The One.
“She had to work, but you get nothing easy in Galway’’, remarked Weld. “She’s tough, a nice filly, my only concern was the ground.”
Charleville, in the care of Kilkenny handler, Patrick Cody, streaked away with the William Hill 1800333555 Handicap.
A 20-1 chance, he won like an odds-on shot, after Danny Grant had sent him clear early in the straight to score by eight lengths.
Paul Carberry enjoyed his first success since returning from injury when driving Steve Capall to a head victory over The Rebel Returns in the williamhill.com Hanicap Hurdle.
It was a real war of attrition between the pair, with Carberry getting the last ounce out of his partner to just prevail.
Keagan Latham rode his second winner at Galway when driving Gimli’s Rock to a short head defeat of Izagonawin in the William Hill Irish Sports Book 2009 Handicap.
Gimli’s Rock hung left on the run-in, interfering with the third, Tatacoa, who was beaten at the time.
A stewards’ inquiry was immediately called, but an alteration to the placings was never a possibility. Latham, however, was found guilty of careless riding and suspended for three days.
The rapidly improving Steig, under the polished Gary Carroll, shot away off the home turn to defy top weight in the williamhill.com-poker Handicap.
The attendance was 20,740, down from 25,537 last year. The Tote decreased from €1,294,499 to €1,044,187. The layers held €2,542,174, as against €3,288,446, a reduction of €746,272.
