Cheetah price proves real value
He was offered as high as 7-4, before finally finding some friends and reverting back to 6-4. It was real value.
The capable Colm O’Donoghue left him bowl along from the start and Dark Cheetah lengthened in style over a furlong down to go clear of Xaarinshki.
“He’s good, he didn’t even know he had a race”, reported a delighted O’Donoghue.
The Dermot Weld-Pat Smullen combination are beginning to hit form and they followed up recent gains when Clever Myth outclassed her rivals in the Macroom Maiden.
Produced from just off the pace by Smullen to lead inside the furlong pole, the daughter of Green Desert eased away to indicate there may be far better to come.
“She had two good runs last season and then got injured”, said Smullen. “She’s a nice filly and we have always liked her.”
Market leader, Annshoon, ran her rivals ragged in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Mares Chase, a contest which saw only three of the 11 starters managing to complete the course.
Shay Barry set a scorching gallop on Annshoon and she was clear throughout to win in a canter.
Commented trainer, Michael Holden: “The ground was as a good as she’d like, but it was a nice prize. We might give her a break now and wait until she can get her toe in.”
Martin Ferris partnered his third winner aboard the Eugene O’Sullivan trained Teo Perugo in the David O’Meara and Sons Beginners Chase.
Teo Perugo led heading to the fourth last and ran clear up the straight to score unextended by 14 lengths.
“I thought he had a few pounds in hand with Martin riding”, said O’Sullivan. “He loves the ground and jumps well, but might go back on the flat now to try and win a maiden.”
Well-backed favourite, Osiris, didn’t jump well and was struggling to get to grips with the leaders when falling four out.
Damian Murphy had his claim reduced to 5lbs after partnering his 15th winner on the Paul Lenihan trained Drumavish Lass, who led a furlong out to easily grab the Bumper.
“That wasn’t unexpected”, said Lenihan, just returned from a two weeks break in Cyprus. “She went well in a schooling bumper at Tipperary three weeks ago when I rode her myself off 12-7.”
Robert Widger was to have partnered the mare, but was at Doncaster Sales and got delayed at Bristol Airport.
Shay Barry, who parted company with Killoran Forever in the Beginners Chase, also missed a winning ride on Prince Linamix in the Alternative Catering Hire Handicap Hurdle.
Nina Carberry was a more than adequate replacement, driving the grey ahead before two out to hold Smoking Barrels.
Pat Flynn, whose horses have been completely out of form, enjoyed a welcome turn when Tashadelek won the Tallow Handicap.
Beautifully handled by in-form Cathy Gannon, Tashadelek led after a furlong and made the rest to beat the staying on Walk In My Shadow a cosy three lengths.
