Taaffe bounces back with a double

TOM TAAFFE, who broke the news earlier in the day that Kicking King would miss the Cheltenham Gold Cup, had a modicum of compensation when In The High Grass won the Kanturk Maiden Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

He is a horse who takes plenty of stoking, but Barry Geraghty was the right man in the right place and got a generous response from his charge up the straight.

Liss Ard tried to make all, but In The High Grass edged past between the last two flights and was well in control on the level.

“He will stay further and handicapping and a trip is the plan”, said Taaffe.

Further compensation awaited Taaffe when he and Geraghty teamed up as well to take the McCarthy Insurance Group Hurdle with odds-on Glenfinn Captain.

Carrying the colours of J P McManus, he gave his supporters more than their share of frights.

The Alderbrook gelding made all the running, but was strongly pressed all the way up the straight by Thyne Again, only getting the best of the tussle in the last hundred yards.

“He's tough and going the right way”, commented Taaffe.

“He has to take the next step now and we will try and win another novice with him.”

Shay Barry was aboard Ethon, who finished fifth of the five runners. The stewards decided Barry had failed to obtain his best possible position and he was suspended for three days and ordered to forfeit his fee.

John Kiely's Ceeawayhome was best for money in the Ballycough Maiden Hurdle, 3-1 to 7-4, and duly did the business.

Always travelling sweetly for Davy Russell, the winner eased past front-running Arc Lemanique three out to score unextended by 11 lengths.

“He's been plagued with splints”, revealed Kiely. “I have always thought a lot of him and at last he has delivered.”

Not a lot has gone right with Dusty Sheehy's horses of late and he was out of luck again in the McCarthy Insurance Group Beginners Chase.

His Some Timbering had the contest wrapped up rising to the last, but made a dreadful blunder, stopping to a walk at the back of the obstacle.

Jack The Hough, partnered by Michael Darcy for Philip Walsh, was left in the lead and held on for dear life close home to hold the renewed challenge of Some Timbering.

Golden Exchange, taken from 5-4 to 9-10, travelled well within himself until cutting out dramatically approaching the home turn. Conor O'Dwyer reported to the stewards that his mount did not handle the surface.

Sheehy, however, had his turn when newcomer Turtle Dubh won the Bumper by 20 lengths, prompting the handler to exclaim: “A change of luck.”

Kevin Power went for glory off the home turn and Turtle Dubh quickly swept away from heavily-backed market leader, Connaught Hall.

“We're hoping he's a Cheltenham bumper horse”, said Sheehy. “He will have another run on better ground and then we'll see.” Cashmans gave the Turtle Island gelding a 33-1 quote.

Nicki O'Shea gave Heartansoul a very strong drive to win the McCarthy Group Insurance Mares Handicap Hurdle.

Davy Russell appeared to hold all the aces coming away from the third last on Tapneiram, but was worried out of it in the closing stages by the Mary Louise Hallahan trained mare.

John Murphy's Charging got back on the winning trail for Andrew McNamara in the McCarthy Insurance Group Handicap Chase.

He made little show at Leopardstown previously when a bad blunder early on contributed to his below-par performance.

He made no mistake here, shooting away heading to the final fence to beat Buailtes And Fadas.

Favourite Too Much Chat never looked happy on the ground, and was in trouble long before the straight was reached.