Ruby sparkles with a treble
It was a day to remember too for Asdee permit holder Padraig O’Connor who struck for only his second win to date when Rampart delivered in the Liberator Handicap Hurdle to a huge roar from his enthusiastic North Kerry supporters.
Walsh showed all his genius as he sat still on 6/4 favourite Red Square Lady in the two and half mile Caherconlish Mares Maiden Hurdle as Burrenstone Mitch and the well supported Zarenas Treasure scrapped it out in front.
Walsh just stalked the leaders until making his move approaching the straight and, toying with his rivals, he went clear to win by four lengths in effortless fashion from Isteresena.
Trainer Michael J Phillips was ecstatic at the ride Walsh gave his filly.
“I was very lucky to get probably the best jockey in the world to ride her, it makes all the difference and it’s a great bonus for any trainer to have him on your horse. Davy Russell was to ride her but Pat Doyle claimed him yesterday and I was very lucky to get Ruby.
“She is a good filly. I thought she would have won a bumper but she got balloted out eight times so I just had to go over hurdles.
“She needs a fast surface so we won't be running her that often as she does not go on heavy ground,” concluded a delighted trainer. The winner is owned by Tom Egan, who owns the Horse and Jockey outside Thurles.
Walsh was again in the winners enclosure after the following Tralee Handicap Hurdle over two and half, when he produced the Michael Hourigan trained 6/4 favourite, Spin The Wind, at the last to collar the front running Owennacurra Bobby and then held off the challenge of the fast finishing Hordago to win by a head.
“She has to run left-handed and Ruby said she was idling a bit in front. She will probably run next at Killarney.
“She is owned by Lady Petersham and she was the last the person I worked for,” quipped trainer Hourigan.
Mister Euro was easy to back in the three mile Denny Handicap Chase but Walsh was always well placed as Punters Friend led for most of the way.
With Mister Euro jumping beautifully, Walsh made his move three out to race clear. He was never in danger as he pinged the last two to win by four lengths on the Pat Fahy trained gelding to complete a superb treble.
Smoking Barrels and Barry Geraghty was all the rage in the three mile Liberator Handicap Hurdle but he was never travelling well and it was the locally trained Rampart, under a confident ride from Kevin Coleman, who asserted in the home straight for a two lengths win from the staying on Woody Glen.
There were scenes of wild celebrations as young Padraig O’Connor from Asdee led in the winner. In fact his brother, Donal, broke in Total Enjoyment who was paraded during racing to loud applause.
“It means everything to a lad like me to win and at a local track. He came out of his race at Tramore on Saturday evening well and everything went according to plan. I started training last year and had one bumper winner prior to this.
“I train alongside the sea and have my own gallops. In fact this fellow was walking on water on Saturday night to freshen him up and now I'm so thrilled I could walk on water as well,” said the trainer who hails from Asdee.
Moss Bawn was a disappointing favourite in the Joseph J Grace Memorial Beginners Chase for Ruby Walsh, who was deputising for the injured Paul Carberry( shaken after a fall off Almier in the fourth). He drifted from 4/5 to 7/4 in the betting, never got involved and was found to be lame behind post-race.
The gambled on Minella Captain (7/1 to 5/1) was given a fine ride by Ken Whelan to just get the better of Clearly In Motion in the shadow of the post. The winner is trained by John J Nallen. Whelan, having his third winner of the season, said: “It was his first run over fences and he did it well but was babyish over a couple and I had to be careful.
“He was not going very well down the back but I gave him a few backhanders and he ran on again,” said Whelan who missed Sunday's meeting as he was watching his native Waterford beat Tipperary!
There was an upset in the Bumper when hot favourite Grangetown ran poorly and it was left to Roger Loughran to deliver Foxy Fred with a well timed challenge to get up close home and beat King Of Spades by a half length.
The winner is trained by Francis Flood.
