Long odds-on Apt Approach forced to dig deep
Apt Approach, despite some indifferent technique, made all the running with Taradoun tracking him throughout.
Taradoun was close enough, if good enough, over the final two fences but Apt Approach found enough on the flat to go three lengths clear.
Said trainer, Willie Mullins: “I’ll find a winners’ of one in the New Year and will let him learn his trade without taking on the big guns. His jumping leaves a lot to be desired, but will improve.”
For Bill, owned by the legendary Donie Sheahan from Killarney and trained by Michael Winters, retained her unbeaten record with a game effort in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Mares Hurdle.
This was her sixth success, two coming in the point-to-point fields and three in bumpers. Mikey O’Connor had her in front four out, but Lady Roberta ranged up as a big danger in the straight.
It was very much in the balance rising to the last, but Lady Roberta buckled at the back of the obstacle and For Bill didn’t need to be asked twice to forge on and score by half a length.
Commented Winters: “She had to work hard, Mikey said the ground was very tacky. She is probably a bit better left-handed, but will now go for a mares winners’ race at Cork in January and it will be fences next season.”
Mouse Morris’ Tinakellylad returned sore behind after producing a game effort to land the Kilsheelan Beginners Chase.
Up front on the last circuit, he jumped to the left at the last and then came up the stands’ rail.
The winner kept finding for Niall Madden, however, and was a comfortable four lengths to the good at the line.
Said Morris: “We will wait for a bit of better ground and go for a winners’ of one or a handicap.”
Kempes took a creditable second, after jumping and travelling like a dream for most of the trip.
He clearly has far more respect for fences than he ever had for hurdles and should be hard enough to beat next time.
Ruby Walsh rode Kempes and was out of luck as well aboard morning-price gamble Seabass, trained by his father, Ted, in the Irish Racing Yearbook Handicap Chase.
Seabass, returned at 2-1, was taken as high as 4-1 in the morning, but could never quite get to grips with Borolee, who shot away early in the straight in the hands of Sean Flanagan.
Winning trainer, Liz Doyle, was represented by her assistant, Barry Murphy, who said: “I’ve always liked him, he’s a lovely horse. He’s entered at Thurles on Sunday, so we’ll see how he is.”
Leblon, no match for Triumph Hurdle favourite, Alaivan, at Gowran Park six days earlier, battled strongly to take the Powerstown three-year-old Maiden Hurdle.
Are You The One looked all over a winner when edging ahead coming away from two out, but Sean McDermott got a renewed effort from Leblon to lead in the final stride.
Trainer, John O’Shea, said: “I don’t like to run horses back so quickly and it is unlikely now she will go to Leopardstown at Christmas.”
The Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle was as moderate as it gets, with victory going to the John Berry-trained Pretty Happy, but that was far from the end of the story.
On returning to the scales Pretty Happy’s rider, Keith Donoghue, weighed in light and disqualification was inevitable.
The stewards were unable to establish a reason for the discrepancy in the weights and no further action was taken.
Pretty Happy had found plenty for pressure to beat the flattering Vast Consumption, who was ridden by Robert Jones for Robert Tyner.
Dusty Sheehy finally got a turn when Nina Carberry worked her magic on Rock the Bock in the Bumper.
The Bach gelding made all the running, getting the full Carberry treatment to resist the persistent challenge of the easy-to-back Willie Mullins-trained newcomer, Pickapocketortwo.
It was Sheehy’s first success since Quintana won at Limerick in July.
