Bookies feel the pain as shark bites
Partnered by Patrick Mullins, Bandama powered ahead heading to the penultimate flight and was soon in control, beating Drain Hopper by seven lengths.
Commented Hanlon: “Thanks be to God, I think I have had some 26 placed horses over the last three weeks.
“It mightn’t have been much of a race, but it is great to get a winner. Patrick says to step him up to two miles and six.
“He will handle cut in the ground and I’ll be taking my time with him. He could be one for Listowel.”
Shay Barry and Eoin Doyle enjoyed the Festival and they each landed a fourth winner of the four days when combining to take the O’Sheas’ Hotel Chase with King High.
Barry, riding at the top of his game right now, powered King High ahead away from two out to easily beat front-running Changing Course.
Said Doyle: “He’s a nice little horse, we like him a lot. He will go for a novice chase, maybe at Listowel, and should pick up a few more races.”
The opening Family Fun Day At Tramore Races Maiden Hurdle was about as bad as it gets, but that will hardly have worried punters, with victory going to the 11-4 favourite, Mr Dazza.
He performed deplorably at Downpatrick previously, but was on much better terms with himself here, shooting away from the last for Barry Cash to beat Betabob.
“He is what he is, but is totally genuine”, reported Karl Wyse, enjoying his third success as a trainer and his first since October 2006. “He was sick the last day and should make a smashing chaser next summer.”
Benefit Of Porter, winner of a maiden at Downpatrick previously, produced a fine effort to defy top weight in the Tramore Amusement Park Mares’ Handicap Hurdle.
Taken into the lead going to two out by Andrew Lynch, she found plenty for pressure to hold the late surge of Ikansea by a head.
Trainer, Pat Sinnott, said: “That was a great performance by mare and jockey. There is a good novice hurdle at Listowel and, if the ground holds, we will look at that.”
Paul Carberry’s display aboard Gordon Elliott’s Supercede, in the Noel Cummins Bookmaker Handicap Chase, was simply poetry in motion.
Carberry was sitting motionless from a long way out, eased Supercede through to challenge in the straight and the contest was put to bed when the winner flew the final fence.
Said Elliott: “He did it a bit better than I expected and might win another small handicap.”
Bachelor Affair, third behind Turf War at Wexford, confirmed the promise sho wn then when landing the Tramore Supporters’ Club Beginners Chase.
Tommy Treacy had the winner travelling nicely throughout and only had to shake him up from the last to beat Boujis Bhoys a comfortable two and a half lengths.
Bookmakers, who were on the back foot throughout the meeting, managed a little respite in the Bumper when 14-1 shot Misspublican beat Kim Tian Road and odds-on Johny’s Lantern.
The trio had a real battle in the last furlong, with Barry O’Neill forcing Misspublican home a neck and a short head to the good.
Trainer, Colin Bowe, said: “She’s a well-bred filly and is a full-sister to Publican. She will probably go for a winners’ bumper and jumps well at home.”
