Handicapper the winner as Bob What gallantly defies top weight
Bob What gallantly defied top weight, beating Chanoud and Take Flite by a short head and a neck, after the trio had engaged in a terrific battle from the final flight.
Bob What was always in the first two and was allowed stride on heading to the third last by Robert Power.
Chanoud got on terms turning to face the judge and then Take Flite joined in for good measure.
But when the war really raged it was Bob What who answered the call just about best, poking his head in front close home. Said winning trainer, Paddy Mullins: “He hasn’t jumped a fence yet, but I think it’s time he went for a beginners chase.’’
Earlier in the afternoon Mullins introduced an exciting newcomer in the Entrepreneur filly Vintage Tipple, from the same family of Vintage Crop, to take the EBF Maiden.
This looked a hot contest of its type, but Vintage Tipple found a fine turn of foot for Johnny Murtagh in the closing stages, after hitting the front inside the furlong pole, to score going away by three lengths.
“That was no surprise’’, said Mullins. “She will go for anything that is available from seven furlongs to a mile.’’ The Mullins double came to a little over 70-1.
Murtagh completed a double when giving Sharena a quite brilliant drive to land the T J Cross Fillies Maiden.
Sharena usually makes the running, but the canny Murtagh dropped her out on this occasion, coming late and fast to outspeed market rival Striking Pose in the last hundred yards.
“Our jockey was very good’’, said Jimmy O’Neill, assistant to successful trainer, John Oxx. “She will go for a handicap now, over this trip or a little further.’’
Dermot Weld trains Striking Pose and he was on the mark in the previous contest when La Stellina overcame a poor draw, in the hands of Pat Smullen, to sweep ahead in the latter stages of the North’s Estate Agents Since 1829 Handicap. “Tactics won the day, you have to take your time from that kind of draw’’ remarked Weld.
The Rosewell House handler enjoyed, if that’s the right word, an interesting journey to the track.
He and his son Kris and jockey David Evans travelled from the Curragh to Kerry by helicopter.
But mist and fog forced the helicopter to land in a field in Ballylongford. “A local farmer, Tim McEllistrim, brought us here in his jeep’’, related a mildly relieved Weld.
“Your man (Michael Kinane) is worth a lot’’, quipped trainer, Willie Browne, after he had just watched his Premier View get up in the last stride to take the second division of the Tankard Bar and Restaurant Handicap.
The Flying Pig flashed ahead off the home turn and was soon a couple of lengths clear.
But Kinane rode a typical whirlwind finish on the topweight to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, as Premier View made up some six lengths from the furlong pole.
Jim Gorman’s horses are finding a bit of form and he was on the mark when Contradiction took the first section of the same contest.
Powerfully handled by Gordon Power, Contradiction got the better of a sustained tussle with Corban through the final furlong.
The very moderate Kerry Petroleum Arthur Blennerhassett Beginners Chase went to the Danny Howard partnered DB My Son.
Victor Bowens’ gelding and the always prominent Caulder had the contest between them from early on the final circuit and DB My Son was left clear when Caulder was pulled up by Paul Carberry approaching the third from home.
It subsequently transpired that Caulder’s saddle had slipped, leaving Carberry with no option.
Keith Hadnett added to his growing reputation with another stylish display aboard Donie Hassett’s Loughbeg Rambler in the North’s Estate Agents Handicap Chase. Hadnett brought the sweet-jumping seven-year-old through to lead jumping the second last and kept him going to beat Blitzy Boy by five lengths.
