Rigour romp delights O’Grady
Taken from a little 5-4 to 5-6, he scored by sixteen lengths, under a confident drive from in-form Andrew McNamara.
Regal Obligation held a huge lead for much of the trip, but McNamara gradually edged his charge closer to the leader and this was over bar a fall heading to two out.
Trainer, Edward O’Grady, said: “I’m delighted, he will now go for a winners’ of one. It was a good effort, because Andrew felt he found the ground difficult.”
Rigour Back Bob is owned by the five-man Gaticoma Syndicate, headed by the Galway hurling manager, John McIntyre.
O’Grady and McNamara, who have developed into a cracking combination, completed a double with the hugely impressive Pesoto in the Munster Beginners Chase.
The grey jumped for fun in front, totally outclassing his rivals to score unextended by 13 lengths.
“He’s had two wind operations since he last ran”, reported O’Grady. “They seem to have been successful and you would have to think he’s an exciting prospect.
“I’m not sure what will be next, I might travel him, or he could go to Gowran Park for a winners’ of one over two and a half.”
The Jim Nash-trained Bigbiggerbiggest was a strong order morning-prices, as high as 14-1, returned at 6’s, and duly landed the touch in the Greenmount Panoramic Restaurant Maiden Hurdle.
Partnered by David Casey, she powered through the testing conditions to grab the flattering market-leader, Page One Two Nine, two out and then went clear to score by six lengths.
Commented Nash: “She liked the ground and jumped great. We will give her one go at a mares hurdle, but it will be chasing sooner rather then later.”
Adrian Maguire’s 25-1 shot Ambrosia’s Promise dead-heated with favourite, Call The Police, in the Christmas Festival December 26th-29th, but was desperately unlucky not to take the entire pot.
She tried to make all the running and those tactics appeared certain to succeed when shooting away heading to two out.
Shortly before the obstacle, however, Ambrosia’s Promise swerved violenty to her left, losing many lengths.
Shane Hassett did his best to get the mare back on an even keel, but she again went left at the last.
In the meantime David Casey, completing a double, was getting a real tune from Call The Police, who led on the flat.
But Ambrosia’s Promise, to her credit, fought back to force the dead-heat in the final stride.
Philip Fenton’s Strange Encounter, runner-up behind The Sneezer at Thurles, made no mistake in the first division of the Greenmount Membership Handicap Hurdle.
He shrugged off top weight with the minimum of fuss, under Richie Kiely, running prominently throughout and then sweeping clear in the straight.
“Thanks be to God he’s won, he kept being pushed up in the weights”, said Fenton. “We will try him in another handicap now.”
Meanwhile, his star hurdler, Dunguib, whose main early-season target is the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse, has been entered at Punchestown on Saturday.
Explained Fenton: “We want to give him a gallop at the Curragh, but that has been impossible with the weather. He could run at Punchestown, but I’d say it’s 60-40 against it happening.”
The second division of the handicap hurdle was won in game fashion by Templetown Hill, who battled on strongly for Shay Barry driving to beat Grey Area.
Trained by Eoin Doyle, Templetown Hill was a 14-1 shot, although paying almost 20-1 on the Tote.
Tiernan’s Terror, ridden by Sean Flanagan for Michael Cunningham, made just about all of the running to win the Friends Of Greenmount Handciap Chase by a massive 26 lengths. He will reappear at Punchestown on Saturday, under a mandatory penalty.
