Carberry magic gets Fnan home in front
“He gave that some ride, he was brilliant”, exclaimed Meade, who has long been Carberry’s biggest fan, in the winner’s enclosure.
Fnan had it all to do in sixth spot approaching the home turn, but off the bend it opened up like the Red Sea and Carberry, quick as a flash, nipped Fnan through on the inside.
The diminutive son of Generous, despite being awkward at the obstacle, landed in front two out and then powered away to beat favourite, Goldstreet.
“He will probably come back here for the Galway Plate trial”, said Meade. “He’ll take his chance in the Plate, but just doesn’t attack his fences and they will probably go too fast for him.”
Aidan O’Brien’s Born In America, fourth behind Acciacatura at Leopardstown on Saturday night, made a winning reappearance in the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden over five furlongs.
Always an odds-on shot, the son of Danzig had to work hard for victory, under Colm O’Donoghue.
Solved, well supported in the market to beat the hot-pot, ran fast throughout but the winner responded well to a few cracks from his pilot and Born In America was in control in the closing stages to score by a neck.
“He gave a blow about a furlong and a half down and I didn’t want to force him”, reported O’Donoghue.
“He’s an improving horse, but will take time.”
The other Ballydoyle juvenile on the night, Fantasticat in the seven furlongs plus Irish Stallion Farms Maiden, proved a costly failure.
Defeat was out of the question as far as most punters in the ring were concerned and he hardened from 4-7 to 2-5.
Pat Cosgrave allowed him stride on with less than half a mile to go, but the market leader found precious little when challenged by Castledale and then Danticat.
Kevin Manning gave Danticat a superb drive, waiting until inside the furlong pole before launching a challenge and then sweeping the colt on in the last hundred yards.
Maasteroffoxhounds justified favouritism with a game performance in the Junction Beginners Chase.
He did well to recover from a bad blunder five out and had a little luck on his side when the always prominent Western Rainbow, who just about held the call, fell at the last.
Masteroffoxhounds was left in front and stayed on well for Mark Grant to hold Bassett Tiger by half a length.
“Two and a half miles is plenty far enough for him”, remarked trainer, David Wachman. “He will head for the GPT Handicap at Galway now and then go back novice chasing.”
Willie Mullins’ heavily backed The Guarantor strolled to victory in the Bumper.
Partnered with real confidence by Jamie Codd, he came from off the pace to ease ahead with over a furlong to run and beat Fatherofthebride comfortably.
Said Mullins: “He will be entered in a winners’ of two bumper at Galway and a maiden hurdle and we will make up our minds nearer the time.”
The defection of True Blue Victory, because of a temperature, from the Summer Barbeque Chase, left the Michael O’Brien trained Goss with a simple task.
Barry Geraghty let the J P McManus owned gelding stride on heading to the fourth and Goss made the rest, shaking off Paddy The Duke between the last two fences to score by six lengths.
Commented McManus’ racing manager, Frank Berry: “He did it nicely and if there’s a winners of two at Galway will probably go there.”
Pat Carey’s Clare Rose ran out a very easy winner of the Audi-Pierse Motors Tipperary Handicap.
Pat Smullen sent the five-year-old ahead with less than two furlongs to run and she quickly stretched away from The Red Fellow.
“I’ve ridden a few for Pat, but that’s the first winner I’ve had for him”, said
Smullen.
David Condon, who partnered fifth placed Quest For Peace, was suspended for four racedays, having been found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency and unnecessarily.
