Panchita comes up trumps for Jacks
The Club leases the mare from winning trainer, Jim Bolger, and this was a seventh success in all for them.
Bob What made the long burst for possible glory with over five furlongs to travel, but it was Panchita who was holding all the aces approaching the home turn.
She was cantering in the hands of Gordon Power, who gave her the office to lead shortly after turning in.
The daughter of Erins Isle did the rest, easing away from Bob What, as Direct Bearing stayed on strongly for second.
Said Bolger: “I had a few quid on each-way on the Tote, although I was worried the ground was gone against her.
“We’ll keep going, as long as the ground is good and then decide whether she stays in training or heads to stud next year.’’
Favourite Ancestor was never travelling at any stage and was pulled up lame by Fran Berry.
Frances Crowley’s horses have been laid low for four weeks with the cough, but are coming back rapidly and she saddled her second winner of the week when Bond streaked away with the EBF Maiden.
Seamus Heffernan sent to the colt ahead over a furlong out and he lengthened in style to score by four lengths.
Said Crowley: “He did it well and has improved. All our horses got the cough, it was very contagious and flew straight through the yard.’’
Heffernan completed a 47-1 double when Tony Mullins’ Dolmur ran out an even easier winner of the EBF Premier Nursery.
Kurbaan, from a bad draw, got to the front after a furlong and held a healthy advantage two furlongs out.
But Dolmur soon cut him down and was driven clear from the furlong pole to score unextended by seven lengths.
“He’s the most laid-back horse I have ever had’’, reported Mullins. The son of Charnwood Forest is likely to be stepped up to listed class now.
John Oxx’s Afreen, who ran so promisingly first time up at Fairyhouse, was totally friendless in the market for the Meadowlands Hotel Maiden.
On the track it was a different story, however, as she bolted in by eight lengths for Fran Berry.
Afreen was a 1-2 shot in the morning and then opened at evens. But by the time betting closed that had extended to 2-1.
Berry had her tracking the leaders for much of the journery, before easing ahead early in the straight. She did the rest, quickly coasting eight lengths to the good over the gambled on Feet Of Fire.
It was Oxx’s fourth success of the week and he was again represented by Jimmy O’Neill, who said: “She shows nothing at home and the ground was a worry as well.’’
Noel Meade’s Compostello was all the rage for the Smirnoff Maiden Hurdle, 4-1 and other prices taken in the moring and 2-1 to 7-4 on-course, and he absolutely cantered in.
Paul Carberry allowed him stride on three out and the winner crossed the line ten lengths to the good and with plenty more in hand.
Meade was again absent and was represented by Gilian O’Brien: She commented: “He will probably go for a winners’ of one, but needs good ground.’’
Wayne Lordan gave The Block Monster an enterprising drive to win the EBF Fillies Handicap.
Lordan made his move well before the straight, sending the 14-1 chance clear. Elbeo’s Dream tried to close, but was always fighting a losing battle.
The Block Monster was a first for trainer Mark Quigley, who is twenty six and is based near Portlaoise.
The capable Keith Hogan rode his third winner with another fine display on top weight Krosno in the Bank Of Ireland Handicap Hurdle.
He took Krosno into the lead over the third last and then kept him going to resist Ogan Hill, who flattered heading to the final flight.
