Flat no obstacle as super Solerina warms up for Punchestown
“We are delighted with that,” said owner, John Bowe, and well he might be, as the mare looked in rude health ahead of her forthcoming Punchestown assignment.
Solerina goes for the Ballymore Properties Stayers’ Hurdle, connections clearly determined to offer her another chance to prove she truly gets three miles.
Solerina led from the start, but was taken on with three furlongs to run by Liss Ard. She found plenty for bustling up by Nina Carberry, however, and was well on top in the closing stages, scoring by five lengths.
“She only had one gallop before this,” commented Bowe. “But Michael (Bowe) was very happy with her. He wasn’t happy with the mare after Christmas.
“Nina said she gave a heave down the back, so there should be plenty improvement to come for Punchestown.”
Aidan O’Brien’s Cougar Cat was taken out of the www.tipperaryraces.ie Race, because of the testing conditions, and Kieren Fallon switched to stable companion, Falstaff.
The son of Montjeu made no mistake, powering past the front-running Violets Empire approaching the final furlong.
“He stuck it out and handled the ground,” said O’Brien. “We thought plenty of him last season, but he was disappointing. Kieran felt he would like better ground and we will step him up to a mile and a quarter now.”
Michael Hourigan, whose horses have been struggling to hit form, enjoyed a turn when Kilfinny Cross took the Novice Handicap Hurdle.
Sent to the front two out by David Flannery, the daughter of Broken Hearted battled on nicely to beat Milo Cosmo.
" It was a seventh success for 21 year-old Flannery and a first at his local track.
“I’m pleased to get a winner, I thought I’d never get one,” exclaimed Martin Browne, after his Mother’s Day had taken the Ardmayle two-year-old Fillies Maiden.
The daughter of Foxhound had run well on her debut at the Curragh and was always proving too strong for her rivals from the two furlong pole.
Browne, 39, is a son of former trainer, Liam, and celebrated his birthday yesterday. He has ten horses in his care and is in his second season with a licence.
“She ran a nice race at the Curragh and all we had to do was work on her fitness,” reported Browne. “She’s a handy little filly.”
Not too many flat pilots are riding better than Wayne Lordan right now and he was again seen to advantage when driving Togher Castle to victory in the Summer Barbeques At Tipperary Handicap.
Stepping back up in trip, after running over six furlongs at Cork previously, Thomond O’Mara’s charge was backed from 5-1 to 3-1 favourite.
He got a strong drive from Lordan, getting on top inside the final furlong to beat Coral Dawn and Apple Wood.
Another market leader to oblige was Hurricane Alley, representing the in-form Ger Lyons stable, in the Tipperary Racecourse Membership Maiden Hurdle.
He made every yard of the running, shooting clear heading to two out in the hands of Shane McCann.
Willie Mullins, absent at a wedding, missed seeing his Of Course land the Rockview Bumper.
Runner-up behind Conna Castle first time up at Limerick, Of Course found plenty for Jamie Codd to wear down Lunar Sea in the last furlong.
Codd was banned for one raceday for using his whip with excessive force and frequency and Roger Quinlan, who rode Lunar Sea, also got a day for using his whip with excessive frequency. Both were instructed to attend RACE for a day for instruction on the correct use of the whip.
Belleinga, revelling in the ground, put up a fine performance in the Gould’s Cross Handicap. Partnered by the capable Padraig Beggy, the top weight surged clear a furlong down to score by three and a half lengths.
