Clare Rose blooms again for Smullen
He held her up at the back of the field for much of the trip, before bringing the five-year-old with a smooth challenge in the straight.
Clare Rose hit the front inside the furlong pole and answered every call in the closing stages to beat Mr Jayjay by a length.
“She’s a right little mare, I love riding her”, reported Smullen.
Trainer, Pat Carey, was well pleased with Clare Rose, who was following up her recent success at Tipperary.
Said Carey: “We were worred about the ground, but she is back to her best, she was sick all last season.”
Clare Rose is in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap at Leopardstown this evening, but Carey later indicated she would probably miss the race.
Dermot Weld’s seasonal debutante, Eshaarat, also partnered by Smullen, was the business in the ring for the Irish Stallion Farms’ Fillies Maiden, 4-1 to 11-4, and she justified the confidence.
The daughter of Zafonic was slowly into her stride, but gradually worked her way into the contest and was poised to challenge all the way up the straight.
Smullen waited until inside the furlong pole before asking for an effort and Eshaarat, after just a moment’s hesitation, quickened in style to score cosily in the end.
Said Smullen: “She was very green and immature. Sut she’s progressive and I like her.”
Smullen completed a superb treble when guiding Raise A Storm, carrying the colours of the Jack Of Trumps Racing Club, to success in the River Rock Race.
King Carew tried to make all, but Smullen was always stalking him and the outcome was never in doubt once the winner eased ahead with less than a furlong to go.
Smullen’s tally now stands at 32 for the campaign, behind Michael Kinane (42) and Johnny Murtagh (35).
Sean McDermott took a nasty tumble from After The Ball in the opener and was removed to hospital in Tralee with a possible fracture of his left arm.
He missed a winning ride on Loan Man in the Grand hotel Killarney Novice Chase, Shay Barry deputising.
Market leader, Le-Monde, looked all over a winner when shooting clear approaching the home turn.
But he stopped as if shot after the third last and it was all Loan Man from two out.
Loan Man is trained at Callan, Co Kilkenny, by John O’Shea, who said: “We gave him an entry in the Galway Plate and he had to win tonight to justify that. We might jusr run him now.”
Also entered in the Plate is Pat Hughes’ Theseus, who took the Sunnybank Handicap Chase, but it is unlikely he will meet the engagement.
“I don’t think he would have any chance of staying two miles and six”, said Hughes.
Theseus scored in fine style, giving local hero, Jim Culloty, a first ever winner in his native county. Theseus powered ahead between the final two fences to beat Snob Wells comfortably.
Garrett Cotter rode his second winner of the week when giving the Paul Roche trained Bridge Hotel an excellent drive to take the Killarney Racegoers’ Club Long Distance Handicap Hurdle.
Minella Captain edged ahead going to two out, but Cotter drove the winner past at the last and kept him going strongly as Minella Captain rallied on the level.
The impressive Cathy Gannon rode her 11th winner of the season on Eddie Lynam’s Fascinating. She certainly found the key to the daughter of Desert King, driving her into the lead well over a furlong down to record a clear-cut victory.
