Impressive Sandy Owen canters all over rivals
The Last Hurrah, odds-on in the morning, was a very uneasy favourite on track, easing to a returned price of 6-4.
Sandy Owen had to be pushed along in the early stages, but certainly grabbed hold of the bit in plenty of time.
He was cantering all over his rivals in the straight, Spencer let out an inch of rein inside the furlong pole and Sandy Owen strode clear without having to be asked any sort of question.
Said trainer, Pat Fahy: “The plan was to go for the GPT at Galway, but we will have to see what weight he gets now. The alternative is a novice hurdle.”
Day Ticket, also partnered by Kinane, was best for money in the ring for the Irish Stallion Farms’ Fillies Maiden, but found one too good in Austin Leahy’s Gane Marie.
Day Ticket looked the likely winner for most of the straight, easing ahead two furlongs down, but Helen Keohane got a real tune from Gane Marie, who powered past in the last hundred yards.
Said Leahy: “This is the first horse owned by Dan Crowley, who is a farmer in Bruree. He’s originally from Bantry, so had to have a Bantry jockey!”
Billy Lee, who changed his boots after weighing out, having been warned not to do so, was suspended for two days.
In a night of woe for the 13-times champion jockey, Kinane was out of luck as well on Fit The Cove in the Kielys’ Electrical Stores Handicap.
In many ways it was a similar story, with Fit The Cove in front early in the straight and, apparently, moving best of all.
But when push came to shove he found little and Niall McCullagh drove Rathgowney Lad past inside the furlong pole for a clear-cut victory.
Trainer Pat Martin, said that the “dig in the ground” suited his charge and Galway is now a possibility.
David Condon took a nasty fall in this contest when his mount, Turgesius, appeared to clip heels after about a furlong. Fortunately, he escaped unscathed.
Indeed, Condon displayed no ill-effects in the final contest of the evening when piloting Caribelle to an easy win in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Claiming Race.
Edward O’Grady’s Windsor Boy was a strong order at morning prices, and on track as well, to make a winning debut in the Grand Hotel Novice Chase.
The wagers were landed alright, but only after a decent slice of luck had fallen his way.
Dalian Dawn eased to the front coming away from the fourth last and there was little to choose between him and Windsor Boy heading to the next.
Dalian Dawn, however, appeared to be travelling the stronger but made no attempt, just as at Roscommon previously, to get to the other side of that third last and the winner was left clear for a bloodless success.
Commented O’Grady: “He will now go to Galway, where he has several options.”
Andrew McNamara, a recent recruit to the professional ranks, had his first ever ride for John Kiely and celebrated in style by taking the Londis Long Distance Handicap Hurdle on Leos Shuil.
Owennacurra Bobby made a brave effort from the front, but Leos Shuil eased past between the final two flights and an awkward leap at the last made no difference.
“She got the trip well and will go for a three mile handicap at Galway next”, reported Kiely.
The grey City Hall continued Paul Nolan’s good run when beating top weight, Theseus, in the Hotel Europe Handicap Chase.
The winner was left in the lead when trail-blazing Annshoon ran out at the fence in front of the stands with a circuit to go and made the rest.
Unlucky horse of the contest was long-absent Micksie Palmer, who was travelling sweetly in third place when falling three out.
Nolan is planning to send City Hall to Ballybrit, as long as the surface isn’t very soft.
