Always in control
When the ground turned soft it was certain he would go off favourite, in front of his Galway conqueror, Swordplay, and it was no contest on the track.
Swordplay was beaten going to two out, as the front-running Always kept up the gallop to beat Ile de Boitron a cosy four and a half lengths.
Said trainer, Noel Meade: “The ground was a help to our horse. He’s very lazy and laid-back and might run in the Havasnack at Tralee during the week.”
Punters had the worst possible start when Meade’s Duneden struggled badly on the rain-softened surface in the Mitchelstown Maiden Hurdle.
Backed from evens to 4-6, he was in trouble starting out for the final time, before making up a huge amount of ground in the straight to fill third spot.
Victory went to Charlie Swan’s Mama Jaffa, in front before the home turn and all out in the closing stages to hold Seomra Hocht.
Commented Swan: “It’s about time, she’s always knocking on the door. We will find a handicap for her somewhere now.”
Carberry later reported, regarding Duneden, that he didn’t handle the soft ground, but ran on well after getting his second wind.
John Kiely introduced a smashing newcomer in Calies Old Vic to streak away with the Bumper.
Taken from 3-1 to 9-4, it was a case of last to first for Derek O’Connor’s mount. He cut through the field like a knife through butter in the last three parts of a mile, surged ahead with less than two furlongs to go to score with his head in his chest.
Commented Kiely: “He’s a grand horse and I have always liked him. He will go hurdling now.”
Tom Mullins added another success to his growing portfolio when Ruff Justice justified favouritism in the Fleming Construction Maiden Hurdle.
Given a very patient drive by Robert Power, the winner came from off the pace to ease to the front between the final two flights and score comfortably.
“I was worried about the ground, but he’s older and stronger and got through it”, said Mullins. “I thought we would be going chasing with him, but Robert thinks he might win another hurdle or two!”
Edward O’Grady’s Oh So Lively produced a fine exhibition of jumping to easily win the Duhallow Handicap Chase.
Capably handled by Paddy Flood, Oh So Lively led going to the fourth last and Flood didn’t have to be in any way hard on him to beat Snob Wells.
“I’m very pleased with that and, as a novice, he remains eligible for novice races later in the season”, said O’Grady.
Ruby Walsh got the best out of the Dessie Hughes trained Trotsky to take the Newmarket Motors Beginners Chase.
This sweet jumper edged into the lead over the fourth last and had to be kept right up to his work in the closing stages to beat Cratloe Castle.
Market leader, Johnjo’s Express, was finding it difficult to close on the winner when falling three from home.
Denis O’Regan was again seen to advantage when grabbing the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle in the dying strides aboard Elva Express.
The front-running Delgany Toulon looked the likely winner all the way up the straight, but Elva Express powered home to collar the trail-blazer at the only place it matters.
