Naples takes advantage as Ballyhoctor refuses to start
Ruby Walsh’s mount, a winner at Galway last time, dug his heels in when his seven rivals jumped off for a race which was won by the Noel Meade-trained Naples, ridden by stable jockey Paul Carberry.
Naples, who had won his Bumper at the Galway Festival, is seen as a stayer in the making by trainer Meade who will look for a suitable novice opportunity for the six-year-old before giving him a winter break in preparation for a spring and summer campaign next year.
Ruby Walsh enjoyed better fortune in the earlier Sean Naughton Auctioneers Handicap Chase when partnering the Pat Hughes-trained Akasian to a hard-earned victory over fast-finishing Cockney’s Pride.
Walsh referred to his two flat successes at Tramore on Sunday as a help as he drove Akasian to hold the runner-up which came from an impossible position turning for home, closing from 13th place to be beaten by only two lengths.
Akasian returned with a cut on his pastern which will rule out trainer Hughes’ intention to run him at the Tralee festival next week.
Earlier, Fran Berry moved two ahead of Pat Smullen in the race for the jockeys’ championship when he brought Miss Chaussini to lead inside the final furlong and land the filliesmaiden for in-form trainer Michael Halford and owner Bill Durkan.
Curragh trainer Michael Grassick might consider sending Nakiska for a listed race on the continent later in the year following her all-the-way win in the Lynam Merit Maiden. Ridden by Niall McCullagh, this filly made all and always looked likely to hold off disappointing favourite Bawaader.
Bush Maiden, a course and distance winner earlier this season, proved best in the ten furlong fillies handicap as Michael Kinane drove her out to beat Lucky Slipper by three quarters of a length.
A shock win for Allstar Leader in the Peter Casey and Sons Handicap Hurdle provided a moment to savour for Michael Fitzgerald, who holds a restricted trainers licence in his base between Dungarvan and Gowran, Co. Kilkenny.
Allstar Leader, owned by Seamus O’Farrell and ridden by his amateur rider son James, was Fitzgerald’s first winner and a successful return home for the winning rider who has been on duty in Norway and Sweden.
