Stand–in O’Regancontinues tomake hay while Carberry’s away
The wins were achieved in contrasting fashion. Odds-on favourite Naples made every yard of the running and never looked in danger in the opening Down Royal Festival of Racing Hurdle, readily following up his initial hurdle success at Roscommon when beating Keelaghan smoothly by five lengths.
Winning owner Kieran McGinn quipped in the winner’s enclosure: “Maybe I should tell Noel to stay away more often,” referring to trainer Meade’s absence in Germany.
Irish Blade captured the Winning Post Cafe Handicap Hurdle to complete the Meade-O’Regan double, but his followers had to wait until he was confirmed the winner after a prolonged steward’s inquiry which followed a messy race. O’Regan delivered his challenge on the inside approaching the final flight where the leader Mother McGinty blundered and unseated Adrian O’Shea. Meanwhile, eventual runner-up Team Allstar had run into traffic problems a few times in the closing stages before being hampered by the exiting leader and finishing well. But the steward’s decision was expected.
Trainer Pat Flynn and the season’s leading rider, Pat Smullen, were also in double form, Flynn’s winners coming via Always On Top and Wangara.
Keith Maher got a good run up the inner on Always On Top to thwart morning gamble Orange Orchid in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
Later, Flynn and Smullen shared in the success of Wangara, which got the better of Sinn Time by a length in the Renault Master Handicap.
Later, Smullen completed his double when Miss Isabela, trained by his wife Frances Crowley, justified odds of 8/15 in the four-runner Renault Kangoo race, beating Neeze by two lengths.
And Smullen was probably unlucky not to have completed a treble following the narrow defeat earlier of Kempes in the Renault Trafic Auction Maiden, an event which produced its share of controversy due to a stall’s malfunction and a flag start.
One of the 14 stalls, the outside box housing Go Blue, failed to open when the starter released the runners, causing a false start. The race was started by flag and Pat Shanahan showed his years of experience, popping Jazabelle out in front and moving to the inside rail to dictate the pace.
Joined early in the straight by the Smullen-ridden Kempes, Jazabelle responded to pressure from Shanahan to earn the spoils by a head, continuing the successful run of veteran Curragh trainer Con Collins. The winner, highly rated in the stable, is owned by Collins’ wife, Barbara.
