Galway Hurdle unlikely to be on Blue Away’s agenda
Fears that the trip round this track would prove much too short for the six-year-old proved unfounded, as he quickened and stayed on far better than the opposition, in the hands of Jim Culloty.
Callow Lake led before the straight, but was challenged going to the last by both the winner and Portant Fella.
Blue Away landed in front and powered clear to beat Portant Fella cosily in the end.
Said Hughes: “He has been entered in the Galway Hurdle, but I don’t think he’s good enough for that.
“I am favouring the two miles and five on the Saturday, or he could run on the flat.”
Myles Sutherland, assistant trainer to Jim Bolger for three years, saddled his first winner when Jinx Johnson beat market leader, Idle Journey, in the Niall Brosnan and Co Solicitors’ Handicap.
The duo battled it out from the furlong pole, but in the closing stages it was always going in favour of Jinx Johnson and Robbie Burke.
Sutherland, who trains in Wexford, took out a licence in April of 2003 and has 15 horses in his care.
“I’ve been looking for this spot for a long time”, he quipped. “We’ve had seconds and thirds, so I’m glad that’s out of the way. She’s a good mare and will run in another handicap.”
Bookmakers began their evening with a decent result when Joe Crowley’s In The Dip took the Mike Cronin Beginners Chase.
The sweet-jumping Gold Spear tried to make all, but had no more left on the run in and couldn’t resist the persistent challenge of In The Dip, giving Ken Whelan his first success for Crowley.
Third placed Spike Cooney looked decidedly unlucky, holding every chance when stumbling badly at the back of the final fence.
Commented Crowley: “We’ll find something for him at Galway, the lads (owners) would like a day out.
“He hadn’t run since March, so we think he will come on a little bit.”
Billy Lee gave La Shalak, this was a sixth win for the mare, a lovely drive to grab the Killarney Park Hotel Handicap for Thurles handler Ger Kennedy.
She is in foal to Captain Rio and made the running, until headed five furlongs out by Black Turtle. Unperturbed, however, Lee drove his charge back into the lead two furlongs down and she made the rest.
Kevin Prendergast’s Coquette Rouge, who made no show on her debut over ten furlongs at Clonmel, showed her appreciation of a major rise in trip in the Michael Moriaty Maiden. She was eased ahead at the two furlong pole by Declan McDonogh, and shot away to score by no less than 20 lengths.
The Gallantjohnjoe gave trainer, Mouse Morris, a rare summer victory when taking the Jack Harty Memorial Handicap Chase.
Barry Geraghty pushed him to the front over the third last and he kept going to beat Alexander Fourball.
Listowel trainer, Tom O’Connor, who has just two horses in his yard, enjoyed a first success when Minnie Turbo took the Bumper.
She was returned at 25-1, but paid a whopping 67-1 on the Tote. Favourite, Little Twinkle, led a furlong and a half from the finish, but Minnie Turbo gradually reeled her in to give rider, Sinead O’Keefe, her third winner.
