Absent O’Grady finally lands GPT Handicap
Speaking by phone, O'Grady said: “I have been trying to win this race for thirty years. I have had a lot of placed and unlucky horses and had virtually given up.
“I have never missed the race and then go and win it when I'm absent. He will run again on Saturday in the two miles and five Dawn Milk Handicap Hurdle.”
Kentucky Charm, owned by Tralee businessman James O'Shea, was given a smashing drive by Kevin Power, enjoying easily his biggest success.
Power (21) comes from Bruff, Co Limerick and this was his 39th winner. “He travelled very easily and did it well”, said the pilot. “Two miles on this track was probably far enough for him.”
Lowlander lobbed along in front, until stable companion Le Leopard, taking a fierce hold, shot clear with a circuit to run.
Le Leopard was never going to get home and Kentucky Charm, always moving beautifully on the heels of the leaders, was committed by Power with over three furlongs to go.
The winner soon grabbed a decisive lead and hard as Athlumney Lad and La Mandragola, who came from last place, tried they could never get in any sort of blow.
Dermot Weld's Kinger Rocks made a fine start over jumps when taking the GPT Sligo Novice Hurdle, under a confident Ruby Walsh drive.
Walsh hunted around in mid-division, before working her into the contest from the second last flight.
Kinger Rocks swept up to join Rajayla at the final flight, got in a bit close to the obstacle, but picked up in a flash and surged three lengths clear on the level.
“My only concern was her lack of experience”, reported Weld. “She was schooled early in the year, but recently just jumped two hurdles at the Curragh on Friday.
“Ruby was having a little trouble with his back, but is such a professional he came to watch her under David Evans. She will turn out again over a mile and six here on Friday night.”
Weld completed a double when newcomer, Dasher Reilly, proved far too good for his rivals in the Bumper.
Superbly handled by Nina Carberry, the four-year-old surged ahead going down into the dip and quickly scampered clear.
Said Weld: “Nina gave him a lovely, positive ride. I don't know what her strike rate is for me, but it is very, very good.
“This is raw horse with a big future. He is called after a man who used to work for Paddy Prendergast and my late father (Charlie), a great character and a noted horseman.”
Coming away from the last, in the GPT Dublin Handicap Hurdle, Ruby Walsh looked sure to complete a double as well aboard Pat Fahy's strong favourite, Thunder Road.
She went about a length up on Mahdi Du Coeur, but Philip Carberry's mount hit back to outbattle his rival and score by a neck.
“It's nice to get on the scoresheet so early”, said trainer, Arthur Moore. “He is likely to run here again on Sunday.”
Johnny Murtagh, celebrating his tenth wedding anniversary, gave Frank Ennis' Sandton City a smashing drive to win the GPT Access Equipment EBF Maiden.
Sandton City tried to make all at Tipperary previously, but with both Galantas and Camisado determined to take each other on, Murtagh sat in third spot.
They were tactics which worked brilliantly. He produced the Daggers Drawn colt to challenge off the home turn and was always getting the best of the fight with Galantas in the closing stages.
“I bought him out of a field in Tullamore”, said a delighted Ennis. “I've had a bit of luck round here and, if coming out of this alright, he will run again in the nursery on Saturday. Rory Cleary will claim 3lbs off him.”
Noend, trained by Frances Crowley for local builder, Joe Joyce, galloped his rivals silly to take the GPT Van and Truck Rentals Handicap in the hands of Declan McDonogh.
Joyce, of course, had his best day in the game so far when Saoire, also in the care of Crowley, won the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh.
“He seemed to enjoy being in front and loved the track”, said Crowley. “He could run again at the meeting, but suffers from sore shins, so we will see.”
A wholescale gamble went astray on John Oxx's top weight Dafarabad. Backed from a little 5-2 to 6-4, he could never get in a blow, although doing his best work at the end to claim fourth.
Tralee handler, Tom Cooper, saddled his first ever winner at Ballybrit when the capable Chris Hayes produced Indian Four with a powerful late challenge to take the GPT Cork Handicap.
“This has been planned for a while”, remarked a delighted Cooper. “Two of the four owners are from Galway and I told them she would win. She just might come back here later in the week.”
Two horses who failed to meet their engagements because of ground conditions, Aidan O'Brien's Streets Of Gold and Niall Madden's Longueville Manor, were suspended from running for five days.
In addition O'Brien was fined 1,000 and Madden 500.
The attendance was a record for a Monday, 19,902, as against 17,954 a year ago. The layers held €2,265,036, also a record for a Monday. Last year's figure was €2,003,599. The Tote was up €36,464 at €965,262, yet another Monday record.
