Light On The Broom sweeps his rivals aside
Well supported in the market, having shown a distinct liking for this track in the past, the winner was far too good for his rivals. Mark Grant eased him ahead going to the fourth last and Light On The Broom galloped on relentlessly to beat Best Wait by six lengths.
Commented trainer, Gerry Stack: “I thought he might have done it before now. Mark gets on very well with the horse, he doesn’t interfere with him.
“If coming out of this race alright he will go for a winners of one at Clonmel on Sunday week.”
Tell Me See, dropped in class, having attempted to match strides with Pizarro in the William Neville at Leopardstown, was a big order in the market for the Cashel Beginners Chase.
Taken from 6-4 to evens, she did the business, getting the best of a protracted tussle with Abbeytown.
The pair took each other on from after five out and the battle looked to be going in favour of Abbeytown for much of the straight.
But the tough Tell Me See rallied in fine style to get well on top in the last hundred yards and score by a length.
The daughter of Glacial Storm is owned, trained and was ridden by John Michael Burke, whose operation is at nearby Holycross.
“She had a leg infection after Leopardstown and we weren’t sure she was spot-on. We will play it by ear, but the plan is to get black type”, reported Burke.
“He’s been unfortunate and deserves that”, said trainer, Robbie Burns, after his Boleyknowsbest landed the opening Ballynonty Maiden Hurdle.
Whatever about the past, the sun certainly shone on the winner on this occasion. His principal rival in the market, The Kop End, cruised to the front early in the straight and headed for the second last looking to be full of running.
But he made no attempt to get to the other side of the obstacle and Boleyknowsbest who was, admittedly, going well in any case was left clear for a bloodless success.
Tom Taaffe’s Emotional Article, a promising third on his debut at Punchestown, made no mistake in the Bumper.
Roger Loughran sent his charge for glory a furlong and a half down and Emotional Article lengthened in style to record a clear-cut victory.
Said Taaffe: “This is a horse with a future. I am not surprised at that, but very pleased.
“Limerick on March 28 will be next and he should make a smashing hurdler.”
Shaalayn, last in his previous two races, landed the Littleton Handicap Hurdle for trainer-rider, Pat Verling.
Returned at 12-1, he paid a whopping 132.5-1 on the Tote. The winner led five out and battled on strongly in the closing stages to hold the flattering Thatsharib.
“He’s a horse who came from Dubai, was in quarantine for a while and is just coming to himself”, explained Verling.
The stewards went through the motions of inquiring into the apparent improvement in form and accepted the explanations offered.
Adrian Lane, who rode Thatsharib, was suspended for one day for using his whip with excessive frequency.
Philip Carberry gave Stutter a very patient drive to win the Tipperary Novice Handicap Hurdle.
Austocon swept on heading to the final flight, but Carberry produced the winner to coast past half way up the run in.
Rider, Thomas Freyne, took a fall from Earlyinthemorning at the third fence. He was unconscious for a while and was removed to hospital in Cashel.
David Russell continued his excellent run, since returning to ride in his native country when partnering the Tom Cooper trained Canary Tan to take the Rock Of Cashel Handicap Chase.
Canary Tan led over the third last and appeared to be holding the challenging Banner Dream when that one departed the scene at the last.
