Holy Orders earns crack at Ebor
Holy Orders is not the easiest of rides but Condon, who has now won on him on five occasions, gets the very best out of the blinkered six-year-old.
He sat out the back as first Alpha Blues and then Queens Wharf made it a swinging gallop.
Queens Wharf went on five furlongs down, but turning for home it was Eckbeag, Sadlers Wings and Icklingham who had forged to the front. By now, however, Condon had worked Holy Order into the contest. Only fourth turning for home, Holy Orders found a real turn of foot to sweep ahead inside the furlong pole.
Indeed, in the end, Condon was able to allow himself the luxury of a backward glance at toiling rivals.
“I thought Holy Orders was in great form all week”, said trainer, Willie Mullins. “He and Sadlers Wings will now both go for the Ebor at York.”
Condon completed a double with a dynamic display on Christavelli, a first success on the flat at the Festival for Danny O’Connell, in the Smirnoff Ice Handicap.
The winner and Camargue had a sustained tussle in the straight, with Condon forcing his charge up on the line to score by a short head. “He gave him a great ride, super”, said a delighted O’Connell.
The decision to change the distance of the Harp Lager Race from a mile and six to a mile and a half backfired big-time when only two met the engagement. The third possibility, Mabrooka, was lame and couldn’t run. John Oxx’s Timawari, who started long odds-on, had a huge amount in hand at the weights with his opponent, Govamix, and the story was exactly the same on the track.
Govamix tried to make all, but Timawari cruised past approaching the straight and won, with his head in his chest, by 25 lengths.
Commented Oxx’s assistant, Jimmy O’Neill: “He only had to canter round and will now run in the Royal Whip at the Curragh on Sunday week.”
Course specialist Half Barrell stayed on dourly to claim the Tony O’Malley Memorial Handicap Chase under David Casey. It was his fourth time winning round Galway.
King Carew bowled along in front and still held a couple of lengths advantage when giving Timmy Murphy a dreadful fall at the second last. Murphy, however, escaped relatively unscathed, other than bruising to his right rib-cage. He was stood down for 48 hours with mild concussion.
Theseus was left in front with the departure of King Carew, but he was soon struggling and Half Barrell powered ahead off the home turn to easily beat Native Commander. Said trainer, Val O’Brien: “We were giving him a good chancee with the ground on the easy side and the fact he always runs well round here. He will come back in September and then go to Listowel.”
Perfect Present, under a strong Alan Crowe ride, landed a little touch in the opening Budweiser Handicap Hurdle. Backed from 20-1 to 14’s, he stayed on late, despite drifitng to his left, to grab the flattering Silver Swan on the line. The winner was a first ever runner for Edward Cawley, who trains at Batterstown, near Dunboyne, Co Meath. “That was severe on the heart”, exclaimed Cawley.
David Elsworth’s first ever runner at Galway, Love Triangle, proved too strong for the home contingent in the Smithwicks Maiden. Given a typically confident drive by Michael Kinane, Love Triangle forged ahead on the inside early in the straight and was always holding Dancing Colors through the final furlong.
Seamus Heffernan is having a tremendous campaign and he was again seen at his best when driving Terjin to a short head victory over favourite, Seeking Bellissimo, in the Smirnoff Black Ice Maiden. The principals had a real set-to in the closing stages, after Terjin had edged on with a furlong and a half to run.
Commented trainer, Frank Ennis: “He’s schooled over hurdles and jumps like a buck. He will go for a three-year-old hurdle at Cork next.”
