Euro Leader survives major blunder to take Gold Medal
Mind you it was far from plain sailing. Euro Leader could be mapped as the likely winner a fair way from home, but a minor error four out was a signal for worse to come.
At the third last, he breasted the fence and it was something of a miracle he didn’t hit the deck.
“It’s about time I stayed on one”, remarked Walsh, who is own worst critic. “Obviously my luck has changed, I was poxed.”
Galway Plate runner-up Ursumman led off the home turn, but Euro Leader came on his outside absolutely cantering. Willie Mullins’ gelding landed in front at the second last and Walsh only had to push him out in the closing stages to score unextended by four lengths.
Said Mullins: “I am delighted with that, he won as we expected. His jumping is progressing and he will now be entered in the Kerry National.
“My worry is that he won’t stay three miles, but I’d say he will come back to Kerry and take his chance.”
Andrew Lynch, who took a fall from Splendour, was taken to hospital for an X-ray on his shoulder and arm.
Walsh and Mullins combined to win the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Novice Hurdle with the much improved Keaveney, who was landing a hat-trick.
Keaveney travelled sweetly on the heels of the leaders for most of the journey and quickly took the measure of Sorry Al coming away from the penultimate obstacle.
Said Mullins: “He’s a good ground horse and I might find it hard to get another opportunity for him. He will jump a fence in time and I’m looking forward to next summer.”
Mark Prescott’s Red Damson followed up his success at Bellewstown with another fine display in the Denny Havasnack. There were some doubts about the ground, but he was never troubled and, in truth, outclassed his rivals.
Ridden with a lot of confidence by Peter Fahey, the always prominent winner kicked on over two furlongs out and easily held Le Leopard in the straight. Prescott was represented by Alyson West, who said: “As far as I know the horse is going home now.
“He handled the ground fine. We were a little concerned, but his half-sister won on it, so we were quietly confident.”
Commented Fahey: “Another shower of rain would have made the ground looser and he would have travelled even better.”
Ken Condon added to his gains earlier in the week with Cellarmaster when Battledress took the Lee Strand three-year-old Hurdle, following up his recent win at Bellewstown.
Paul Carberry, who was stood down on Wednesday with a stiff neck, missed the ride, but Robert Power proved a more than capable replacement.
Power produced the In The Wings gelding with excellent timing at the last to beat Bowerman, who made a highly promising debut over jumps.
“I am very pleased and think there is great merit in him carrying his penalty on that ground”, said in-form Condon. “Paul said to hold him up and it worked. He is a horse who loves jumping.”
The layers got a screamer in the Grand Hotel Handicap Chase with victory going to 20-1 shot Touch Of Love.
Having his second outing for Leslie Young, the nine-year-old hadn’t tasted success since July 2002. He came from behind to collar Wrapitup, in front before the third last, at the final fence and was much the stronger on the flat.
“He has had leg trouble and the ground turning soft suited”, reported Young.
Jirlan went off the well-backed favourite, 9-4 to 7-4, but had no more to offer from the second last.
The Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Median Auction Maiden didn’t look much of a contest, but Con Collins’ previously once-raced Spanish Blue did his job well.
Produced by Pat Shanahan to lead a furlong down, the son of Bluebird kept going through the testing conditions to beat The Stunner a length and a half.
Collins and Shanahan completed a double when Star Of Russia landed the DNG W H Giles Auctioneers’ Handicap.
It was a decent effort on the part of the filly. She scored on fast ground at Bellewstown previously and handled this totally different surface in good style.
Star Of Russia was constantly blocked as she tried to challenge in the straight, but once in the clear was always going to grab Ciaras Luck.
Ballinrobe publican Michael Flannery, it took him four hours to get to the track, was on the mark when saddling Water Side to take the Timmy Houlihan Memorial Handicap.
La Commara and Liscoa had a fair old battle up the straight, but neither could cope with the late surge of the Tadhg O’Shea-partnered winner.
