Hehasalife makes all for impressive win
He made every yard of the running, in the hands of Paul Hourigan, and had the look of a winner a long way from home.
Hehasalife, whose jumping was mainly first class, did err two out, but maintained a strong gallop to cross the line five lengths to the good over Nickels ’N Dimes.
Said Hourigan: “He’s been a bit disappointing and would have liked better ground. He will now go for a novice hurdle at Galway. He’s a ’chaser in the making and will probably start off over fences at Listowel.”
Eddie Lynam’s Red Feather, a 12-1 shot, produced a very taking performance to win the Irish Stallion Farms’ Fillies Maiden by ten lengths.
She cantered to the front approaching the home turn and quickly stretched right away in the hands of Niall McCullagh.
“We knew she was nice, but has had a few setbacks”, reported Lynam. “We have seen the real deal this evening and the plan is the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh.”
The daughter of Marju cost 60,000 at Goffs and is owned by Tony O’Reilly’s wife, Cryss.
When Bowling Green cantered ahead off the home turn, in the Stanley Racing Handicap Hurdle, it really looked a question of how far he would win.
But the seven-year-old wasn’t good over the last two flights and had to be driven right out in the closing stages by Derek O’Connor to hold Achates by a short head.
O’Connor, 21, was enjoying his 13th succcess.
Con Collins and Pat Shanahan have long been a potent combination and the inimitable duo struck with well-backed Lady Digby in the Personal Protection Handicap.
The daughter of Petorius was easily the best supported horse in the contest, finding 7-2 favouritism from 5-1.
She justified the confidence in style, easing ahead early in the straight and then powering clear to beat Music Celebre by three lengths.
Jessica Harrington’s Colca Canyon completed a hat-trick with a determined display to take the Lynch Southcourt Hotel Novice Hurdle.
Robert Power was seen to real advantage on the winner, rallying him strongly on the flat, after he had appeared beaten at the last.
Heavily supported market leader, Sky To Sea, came to lead at the final flight, looking all over a winner, but Colca Canyon showed much the greater resolution on the flat to score by a short head.
Unlucky horse of the contest was Noel Meade’s Tunes Of Glory. He was joint leader with Colca Canyon jumping the penultimate flight, but slipped and fell at the back of the obstacle.
Barry Connell rode his second winner, the first arrived courtesy of a technicality, when partnering his own Ballytobin to take the Bumper.
Favourite, Rosnagowloge, made the long burst for the judge seven furlongs out, but had no answer to the winner inside the furlong pole.
For most of the straight, in the Coyle Hamilton Centenary Handicap, the Killarney winner, La Shalak, looked likely to do the business again.
She led with a furlong and a half to run, but Fran Berry got a real tune from Avoir Du Cran in the closing stages to spoil the party.
Finally, a word about the ground. It was officially good to yielding, good in places before racing.
After the first race it was changed to soft, despite there being no appreciable rain in the meantime.
Surely, it is time the authorities grasped the nettle and put an end to this type of hit-and-miss assessment of ground conditions.
