Classy gets Ahern off the mark as she foils gamble
Ahern, who has six horses in his care, took out a licence last April and his Good Thyne mare foiled some decent wagers on Parsons Legacy.
Calling Classy was pushed ahead off the home turn by Garrett Cotter and though Parsons Legacy, struggling on the down hill run to the straight, stayed on to real effect, there was still three parts of a length between them at the line. "If she is alright she will probably go for a novice hurdle at Limerick on Wednesaday”, said Ahern.
James ‘Corky’ Carroll (23) from Charleville, Co Cork rode his sixth winner when getting Mackinus up on the line to foil short-priced favourite Coolnahilla in the Ballyvaughan Handicap Chase.
Coolnahilla, taken at 2-1 in the morning and backed from 5-4 to evens on track, looked all over a winner when edging ahead coming away from the second last. But Carroll got a real tune from Mackinus to force him up close home to score by a head. Said trainer, Pat Fahy: "I promised Corky if he won on the horse I’d let him ride him in the four miler at Cheltenham, so we’ll have to see.”
Willie Mullins’ horses have been out of form all season, but the show got back on track a bit when his newcomer Mr Babbage justified hefty market support, 3-1 to 6-4, in the Bumper.
Patiently handled by James Nash, the winner cantered ahead early in the straight to beat Master Billy a cosy four lengths. Mullins immediately confirmed Mr Babbage, given a 20-1 quote by Cashmans, for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.
"I have always thought an awful lot of this horse”, reported Mullins. "James said he will be a much better horse on better ground.”
The talented Adrienne Foley rode her 15th winner, and lost her right to claim 7lbs, when giving Yogi a delightful drive to land the Suir Ladies Handicap Hurdle.
Yogi often makes the running, but Foley sat off the pace until easing ahead over the fourth from home. The tactics were perfect and Yogi did the rest, surviving a mistake at the last to easily beat Jordans Lad.
It was the first time the pilot had taken a spin over flights and her trainer-father, Tom, said: "She took some convincing to ride him, but has always got on better than anyone else with this horse.”
Jim Dreaper’s Green River, carrying Paul Green’s colours, made famous by Carvill’s Hill, galloped his rivals silly to take the three mile INH Stallion Owners’ Maiden Hurdle.
Robert Power left him hit the front with well over a circuit to go and Green River found loads for pressure to shoot clear from the penultimate obstacle.
Dreaper’s wife, Patricia, represented him and said: "The trip and ground are what he wanted and he should make a chaser.
"Paul isn’t here today, but will be delighted. He came to see the horse a few times, but he was either balloted out or the ground was wrong.”
Too Much Chat was the business in the ring for the Comeragh Handicap Hurdle, but went down by 12 lengths to top weight, Keepakicker. Adrian Lane powered Keepakicker ahead going to the third last and up the straight it was all one-way traffic. Commented trainer, Eric McNamara: "He got a fall at Limerick two runs back and wasn’t right after. I thought we had him right today however.”
