Clear-cut win for Crystal
The daughter of Imperial Ballet was ridden by 17-year-old Christopher Hayes from Shanagolden, Co Limerick, who is apprenticed to Prendergast.
This was the youngster’s third winner, in his first season riding. He was, however, champion pony rider last year, with a whopping 66 successes to his credit.
Imperial Rose and Falstaff fought it out from early in the straight, but it was the final swoop of Crystal View which was to prove decisive.
Falstaff was backed from 3-1 to 2-1 favourite and performed solidly, but was conceding buckets of weight to the two who beat him and that proved just too much.
Warmest reception of the week was reserved for two of the great veterans of the game, Ballygowan Beauty and Tommy Walker, after the 12-year-old had taken the United Beverages Handicap.
Ballygowan Beauty has been a tough customer all his life and proved it here again, coming from off the pace, under an inspired Billy Lee drive, to cut down Sophiyah and Corrib Boy close home.
“He might win a hurdle race now,” said Walker. “I’ll take him back to Listowel and see how he gets on there, Kerry is his county.”
The Suzanne Cox trained Splendour, having made the long journey from Dundalk, galloped his rivals silly to take the Denny Gold Medal Handicap ’Chase.
“This is my first runner here and I wouldn’t come all this distance for the good of my health”, quipped Cox.
Barry Geraghty took the winner into the lead going to the second and Splendour kept up a strong gallop to beat Ballyamber, 2-1 to 5-4, by an easy nine lengths. “I am aiming him at the Kerry National at Listowel,” revealed Cox.
The Gerry Keane trained top weight Victor Boy defied 12-0 with a smooth display to win the Grand Hotel Handicap ’Chase.
Partnered with typical confidence by Paul Carberry, Victor Boy cruised past the flattering Tara Hall after two out to score with plenty in hand.
“This horse is a good servant and has been done for his wind three times”, reported Keane. “He got jarred up on hard ground and lost his confidence, but we freshened him up and he came here in great form.”
There was a fair old smell of burning rubber after Treculiar had got beaten in the Barrys’ Bakery Novice Hurdle.
Pat Hughes’ charge was a big order in the morning, at 5-4 and 11-10, and was always long odds-on at the track.
He led before the third last, but in the end was outbattled by Charlie Swan’s very promising Ryanally, who made a winning debut previously in a Killarney bumper.
“We will give her one more run, probably at Listowel, and then she will have a break”, said Swan.
“It’s about 70 runners since I had a winner, but those things happen”, exclaimed a relieved Michael Hourigan after his Dr Julian had cruised to victory in the Fabric and Furniture Centre Handicap Hurdle.
Dr Julian shot away from his rivals from two out in the hands of Ruby Walsh.
“He will head for Listowel now for another four-year-old handicap”, said Hourigan.
Golden Storm battled on dourly through the testing conditions to beat the wide-running Strong Project and the trail-blazing Sue ’N Win in the Denny Havasnack.
This tough seven-year-old, a proven ’chaser, will now be geared towards a challenge at the Kerry National.
Minaun Heights, last of ten on fast ground at Tramore previously, clearly relished the underfoot conditions in the Timmy Houlihan Memorial Handicap. Taken to the front over a furlong down by Pat Shanahan, the four-year-old quickly scampered on from Purest Gem.
