Kymandjen continues Nolan’s good run
The nine-year-old was given a lovely patient drive by Cullen, improving from behind to ease past Barrow Drive on the approach to the final fence.
Nolan was represented by his brother James, who said: “I think John is the most under-rated of the top riders.
“I thought he gave that a brilliant drive. The horse hasn’t been right for a few weeks and we were dreading running him on this ground.
“But he switched off like a dream and will now go for the Thyestes at Gowran Park. He is at his best when travelling right-handed.
“John thinks he’s one of the best jumpers he’s ever ridden and he will be entered for both the Tophan and the Grand National at Aintree.”
Commented Cullen: “A number of them wanted to be handy, so we decided to drop out.”
Kymandjen was purchased on Saturday by Murt Doran, who sponsors the Thyestes this year for the first time.
Favourite Mossy Green was bowling along merrily in front when taking a crashing fall at the sixth. Fortunately both horse and pilot, David Casey, escaped relatively unscathed.
Cullen was again seen to advantage when completing a double aboard Macs Flamingo in the Kent Bros Beginners Chase, giving trainer, Pat Fahy, a welcome change of luck.
“I wasn’t confident at all”, remarked Fahy. “My horses are struggling for form, they are just not firing.”
Cullen, however, got a real tune out of Macs Flamingo, driving him ahead coming away from the second last to hold Lissbonney Project by three parts of a length.
James Cousins, who mixes farming with training a handful of horses, enjoyed his first success on the track when Twiststickorbuy took the James F Wallace Chartered Accountants and Business Consultants Maiden Hurdle.
It needed a large slice of luck, however, because going to the second last this was a contest which was between Banna’s and Code Of Rules.
Banna’s rose first to the obstacle, looking sure to score, but crumbled at the back of the obstacle, bringing down Code Of Rules.
The winner was left in front and kept going to beat Flame Six. Cousins has held a restricted licence for three years and has three to his name in the point-to-point fields.
John Joe Walsh and Ken Whelan, who combined to score with Island Pride at Thurles before Christmas, were on the mark again when Maristania took the Tom Carroll Memorial Handicap Chase.
Whelan powered the bottom weight ahead after the second last to beat Mountgarry comfortably.
Compo, sure to score when falling at the last at Limerick, was taken from 11-10 to 4-5, but was very one-paced through the last half mile, only managing a disappointing third.
Edward O’Grady went to Fairyhouse and missed seeing his You’vegotmerocking slog his way to victory in the Waterford and Tramore Raacecourse Maiden Hurdle.
Always prominent Chelsea Harbour was a real threat at the last, but missed out the flight and that was decisive.
Well-backed market leader Impersonator, taken from 6-4 to 11-10, fell at the fifth.
He was partnerd by Mark Watts, who was removed to Ardkeen Hospital with a suspected fracture of his left arm and right collarbone.
Tyone Legend, 9-4 to 7-4, proved the only winning favourite of the day when landing the Bumper. Capably handled by Eddie Power, Tyone Legend went round the inside, led three furlongs down and found plenty to beat Holly Tree.
The Seamus Fahey trained 16-1 shot Fadie’s Island skipped clear going to three out to take the David Flynn Construction Novice Handicap Hurdle from the gamble of the contest, Iron Hague.
Tom Molloy (18), who is attached to the Jim Bolger yard, was in the plate and this was his third success.
