Arteea enjoys virtual solo after main rival departs the scene at first fence
Third behind the classy pair Watson Lake and Accordion Etoile on his chasing debut at Limerick, Arteea did a virtual solo following the first fence fall of chief rival Kahuna and, despite looking around in front, made the rest of the running to beat Top Strategy easily by fifteen lengths in a four-runner Grade 3 affair in which only two finished.
“I suppose it was made easy for him,” admitted winning trainer Michael Hourigan, “But he jumped super for a horse that doesn’t like being in front. He won the Land Rover Bumper and, in the circumstances, did well to win twice over hurdles because all of mine were sick for most of last season. He has really taken to jumping fences and seems to handle all sorts of ground. He’ll run in some of the good ‘novices’ now.”
Arteea jumped fluently throughout, despite not enjoying being out on his own, and had the race in safe-keeping when Calorando crashed out of the race at the second last, leaving Top Strategy to finish a distant second.
Hourigan and McNamara were expected to complete a double with favourite Kilbeggan Lad in the Galway City Tribune Handicap Hurdle. But the Listowel winner was struggling three from home and eventually finished a well-beaten fifth. Victory here went to 12/1 shot On Your Way, trained by well-known amateur rider Liz Doyle for a twenty-four member syndicate comprising members of Fine Gael and ridden by Alan Donoghue.
Trainer Doyle only decided to run On Your Way when the original top-weights came out of the race, allowing her charge into the handicap. And the six-year-old, clearly relishing the testing conditions, powered up the hill to slam Heronstown by thirteen lengths.
Timber Scorpion, trained by Pat Hughes and ridden by Joey Elliott, made it third-time-lucky over hurdles when landing the Bradley Motor Works ltd. 3-Y-0 Hurdle in convincing style.
In the flat action, champion apprentice elect Chris Hayes came close to victory twice but, on both occasions suffered the disappointment of seeing his mounts collared inside the final furlong.
In the opener, Seamus Heffernan brought Nevada Range, narrowly beaten at Fairyhouse last time, with a strong late challenge to master Sweet Petite (Hayes) in the Corrib Oil Auction 2-Y-0 Race. This winner is trained by Joe Crowley for his daughter Ann Marie O’Brien.
Later, Hayes edged clear on the Michael Grassick-trained Pelagias Star approaching the straight in the Renvyle House Hotel Handicap.
But, once again, his move proved to be premature as Gilberto, trained by Pat Martin and ridden by Hayes’ colleague at Kevin Prendergast’s Padraig Beggy, wore down the leader to snatch victory and follow-up a recent win in a Tramore claimer.
Trainer Martin acknowledged that he had been running Gilberto over an inadequate trip and, having now won with him twice over a mile and a half, is looking forward to next season with the gelding. Running for the third time in little over a week, Bay Boy wore down Grisham to win the Parkmore Handicap for Niall McCullagh and trainer Andy Oliver.
In the bumper, Charlie Swan and Lennie Flynn, out of luck when Lace Your Boots ran out at Naas on Saturday, gained some compensation when Berkeley House built on her promising debut run at Listowel.
