Emotional Moment for Taaffe and Casey
Always near the front, David Casey pushed him ahead going to the second last. The well-backed Joueur D’Estruval, 5-2 from 3-1, tried to close, but was some two and a half lengths down, and well held, when falling at the final fence.
“I am very happy with that, he jumped well”, remarked Taaffe. “He’s not as sharp as he was over two miles. The plan now is to go for a Grade Two, over two and a half, at Limerick at Christmas and then to step him up in class and distance after that.”
Cashmans gave Emotional Moment a 33-1 quote for Cheltenham’s SunAlliance Novices ’Chase, behind 11-4 favourite Strong Flow.
News of Taaffe’s stable star, Kicking King, runner-up to Back In Front in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, is that he will next run at either Cork or Fairyhouse prior to Christmas.
Casey completed a double when Charlie Swan’s Strong Project landed a good gamble in the Rock Of Cashel Hurdle. Backed from 5-2 to 5-4, Strong Project cantered past the front-running Hardrada, coming away from the third last to score unextended by 12 lengths.
“That was nice, he’s broken down twice” reported Swan. “It is a case of day-by-day with him.”
Rule Supreme, despite some indifferent jumping, stayed on doggedly to take the Glen ’Chase.
Edward O’Grady’s Never More, returning from a break of two and a half years, ran a remarkable race, after Mark Grant allowed him stride on at the sixth.
He looked sure to score when holding a clear advantage into the straight, but began to tire before the final fence and Rule Supreme powered past on the run in.
Commented Willie Mullins of his winner: “I am barely happy, he didn’t jump well. I thought he’d need the race and will improve a lot.”
Joe Crowley’s Corrib Boy reaped the reward of consistency when landing the first division of the Holy Cross three-year-old Maiden Hurdle. Silvergino set a spanking gallop, but the winner always had him in his sights. Corrib Boy led two out, he erred here and again at the last, but found plenty for John Allen to do the business by a hard earned length.
Said Crowley: “He will to Leopardstown for the Denny’s or a winners of one, but will have to jump better than that.”
The second section of the same contest was much weaker and it went to Pat Fahy’s Eimear’s Pride.
He got the best of a tough three-way tussle with Golden Triangle and slightly unlucky-in- running hot-pot, Verrocchio.
It was a decent enough performance on the part of the winner. He hadn’t been seen since hurting a stifle at Ballinrobe in August and had only been back cantering for six weeks.
Kevin Coleman, 18, from Innishannon, Co Cork, rode his first winner on the John Joe Walsh trained Connemara Mist. Coleman, who has had about ten rides in all, was enjoying just his second spin over fences and he got the better of Ruby Walsh and well supported market leader, Ride The Storm.
The favourite looked sure to score when edging ahead off the home turn, but brushed through the final fence and the youngster rallied his charge, a 20-1 shot, in fine style to forge ahead close home and score by half a length.
Callanagh Pride, returned at 20-1 but taken at 100-1 in the ring, made most of the running to win the Cahir Maiden Hurdle.
Whether she had luck on her side, however, is a matter of conjecture. Rosenca was the medium of some major wagers in the ring, finding 11-10 from 6-4.
He was travelling sweetly, a couple of lengths adrift of the eventual winner, when toppling over at the second last.
Francys Fancy, who went up 7lbs for winning at Gowran Park, made light of the extra, streaking away with the Munster Handicap Hurdle. Sam Curling allowed her stride on heading to the third last and Francys Fancy did the rest, scampering 11 lengths clear of Run Katie Chimes.
