Liszt hits right note
The grey son of Galileo set a scorching pace throughout, considering the testing conditions, asking serious questions of his rivals.
Only 3-1 favourite Cybersnow was able to mount any sort of challenge in the straight, but hard as he tried was unable to make any impact and was a length and three parts adrift at the line.
Annemarie O’Brien represented husband, Aidan, and said: “He was a brave horse out there. He is improving all the time, kept going well and Colm (O’Donoghue) gave him some ride.”
O’Donoghue, however, was suspended for three days for using his whip with excessive force and frequency and for hitting the horse down the shoulder in the forehand position.
Kevin Prendergast’s previously once-raced Rightside showed fine battling qualities to justify favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
She slipped on the rain-softened ground approaching the straight and her chance appeared to be gone.
But Chris Hayes gave her plenty of time to get back on an even keel and then launched the daughter of High Chaparral with a fierce challenge heading to the final furlong.
She had three or four lengths to make up on 33-1 chance, She’s A Staker, but answered the call and was nicely on top close home.
Said Hayes: “She hated the ground, but her class got her there and the experience last week (Gowran Park) stood to her.”
Shane Foley gave Ufallya, trained on the Curragh by John McConnell, a strong drive to take the Killarney Rugby Club Development Fund Handicap, sweeping the filly clear through the final furlong to beat Abigail’s Aunt.
Commented McConnell: “Job done, she is owned by her breeder and it was important for her to win.
“She will go for something similar and might be a better four-year-old, if staying in training.”
Foley was before the stewards concerning his use of the whip and suspended for one day for using it with excessive frequency.
The layers got the type of result which makes life worth living when 50-1 chance Bideford Legend won the Killarney Oaks Novice Chase.
There was no fluke about the success of the Paul Flynn-trained gelding, as he found plenty for the urgings of Michael Darcy.
The Phantom Piper held the call for most of the straight, but sketchy jumping was his undoing and the winner swept past on the flat to score by two and a half lengths.
Adrian Maguire could hardly have been more realistic after his Coola Boola, under Shane Hassett, had made all the running to land the Allied Irish Banks Killarney Handicap Chase.
“He ain’t much”, remarked Maguire. “All the credit has to go the lad who rode him, he was superb at Tramore (fourth) and again tonight.”
The conclusion of the McSweeney Arms Hotel Mares Beginners Chase saw the stewards call what could only be described as a totally frivolous inquiry.
Gerannjo, partnered by Barry Geraghty, went to the front going to the last and was then challenged on the flat by Compelled, who came from off the pace.
Gerannjo did hang a little to her left, but there was no contact whatsoever and Compelled was in no way inconvenienced.
In any case justice was finally done with Gerannjo, surprise, surprise, keeping the contest.
The Bumper saw Brave Heart outstay For A Finish, in what was a real war of attrition over the last two furlongs.
