Galway Hurdle a possibility after Carberry gives masterclass on Three Mirrors
Carberry, literally, stole the contest. He had Tony Mullins’ charge on the pace throughout and then drove him clear approaching the home turn.
Lucky Slipper finished with a real flourish, but could never get to Three Mirrors, who crossed the line a cosy length to the good.
“He has loads of experience and might be a Galway Hurdle horse”, said Mullins.
“Even though he’s only four, he’s a great jumper and I wouldn’t be afraid to send him chasing.”
Flavian Dynasty was a big disappointment, having been backed from evens to 8-11. She made a bad mistake at the fifth and never threatened to get in a blow after.
Carberry was equally good aboard Louisville in the Ballykisteen Maiden Hurdle.
The Grand Lodge gelding started life with Aidan O’Brien and, indeed, finished ninth behind High Chaparral in the Epsom Derby two years ago.
He has been most disappointing for Noel Meade over flights, however, and has to be produced as late as possible.
Carberry held onto him for as long as he could, but had to go for glory at the last, driving Louisville for all he was worth to beat Hasik a hard-earned head.
The winner was a big order in the market, finding 8-13 from 4-5.
Aidan O’Brien introduced yet another winning juvenile when Cougar Cat took the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
The layers clearly felt there was a good chance of getting him beaten and offered 4-5. That soon dried up and he was returned at 8-15.
The winner and Dermot Weld’s first-timer, Spring Of Pearls, had it between them from the two furlong pole and it was Cougar Cat who held all the aces in the closing stages.
“He’s a fast horse and will come on for the run”, said O’Brien.
John Oxx’s Hamairi, as expected, totally outclassed moderate rivals in the Pat Ryan Senator Windows Maiden.
Always travalling sweetly for Michael Kinane, the son of Spectrum lengthened clear from over a furlong down to score by five lengths.
Oxx wasn’t at the meeting, but Hamairi is clearly a colt with a bright future, who will hold his own in far better class than this.
Habihat, who won what looked an ordinary race at Clonmel previously, stepped well up on that to take the Total Enjoyment Bumper.
Confidently handled by Niall Madden, Habihat cantered ahead five furlongs down and had little trouble holding the late rush of The Screamer. It was a fourth training success for Tom Mullins, who said: “I knew he had improved, but not by that much. He looks a good prospect.”
Ger Stack’s newcomer, Anseo, made most of the running to win the Ashtown House Stud Bumper, under a strong John Thomas McNamara drive. The five-year-old found plenty for pressure through the final two furlongs to comfortably beat the dead-heaters, Apairofducks and fast-finishing, Florida Belle. It was the first time McNamara had ridden for Stack.
The under-rated Seamus Heffernan brought Acorn Lodge with a sweeping late effort down the centre of the track to beat Freya and Civic Duty in the five furlongs Dunbavin Handicap.
Michael Darcy sent Golden Beaty to the front three out and kept her going all the way up the straight to resist all challengers in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle.
