Scenic route pays off for Keohane
Keohane made the brave decision to race out wide on her own all the way up the straight, after staying off the pace for much of the trip, and it was an inspired move.
All First surged ahead with over a furlong to run and galloped on relentlessly to beat Arwean by eight lengths.
"The kid (Keohane) rides well, they cut each other’s throats”, said Leahy.
"I asked her why she came so wide and she replied that’s where the best ground was!”
All First, hardly surprisingly, was claimed by Martin Brassil for 14,100.
Leahy completed just over a 70-1 double when Class Reunion, ridden by Tom Queally, won the Dunloe Castle Handicap.
The winner and Liberty Pal slogged it out on the testing surface through the final furlong, with Class Reunion getting well on top close home.
"This was his first run of the season and that’s a mild surprise”, said Leahy
"He’s jumped hurdles before and could go back over them, if I can entice the owner to do so.”
Get Smart (16-1) proved far too good for his rivals in the Killarney Racegoers’ Club Handicap Chase.
Patiently handled by Shay Barry, Get Smart led heading to the second last and was soon well clear.
Commented trainer, John Murphy: "He loves that ground. Shay gave him a smashing ride, he picked a nice bit of ground.”
The famous Robert Sangster colours, Golden Fleece and The Minstrel won the Epsom Derby in them, were carried to victory by the Tommy Stack trained Pilgrims Progress in the Ross Golf Club Handicap.
The Wayne Lordan partnered colt also found coming wide in the straight a profitable course of action.
He was in front fully two furlongs down and simply surged away to score unextended by 13 lengths.
Charlie Swan saddled his second winner of the week when Sally Webster outstayed her rivals in the EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
She cantered to the front off the home turn, but was joined at the last by Mrs Avery.
David Casey had saved plenty, however, and Sally Webster stretched right away on the level. The winner had performed very poorly at Punchestown in a bumper previously and Swan said: "She was very disappointing. There was no excuse, but she does love jumping.”
Curragh handler, Peter Henley, enjoyed his first win when Tim French, owned by Michael Futter, landed the Laurels Handicap Chase. Futter, of course, heads the Dee One Racing Syndicate, who own Aintree Grand National hero, Montys Pass. This three miles took a lot of getting and Tim French was the one best equipped to do the business.
Barry Geraghty took him into the lead heading to four out and Tim French kept going to beat the unlucky in running Autmum Mist, who was in front when badly hampered by a loose horse going out for the final time.
Frances Crowley introduced a nice newcomer, In The Park, to win the Bumper in the hands of Kevin Power.
The Roselier gelding came under pressure early in the straight, but responded generously, powering seven lengths clear inside the final furlong.
For 18-year-old Power it was an 11th success, nine of them coming in Ireland and two in England.
