In-form Lordan guides Disclosure to smooth success in maiden
The son of Desert Style was always travelling sweetly on the heels of the leaders. He hit the front at the furlong marker and was driven three lengths clear in the closing stages to beat the always prominent Baynes Cross.
“He will stay further”, said Stack’s son, Fozzy. “He will go for a winners of one or a handicap and should make a decent three-year-old hurdler.”
Lordan completed a double when providing Austin Leahy with a welcome change of luck with Walk In My Shadow in the second division of the Devils Bit Handicap.
The five-year-old daughter of Orpen was slowly away and Lordan, cleverly, gave her plenty time to find her feet.
Hr worked Walk In My Shadow into the contest gradually and she found plenty for pressure in the closing stages to grab top weight Forfeiter in the dying strides and score by a short head.
Reported Leahy: “If Limerick is on on Saturday, she will turn out again with a 5lbs penalty over seven furlongs.”
Pat Flynn was loud in his praise of Danny Grant, after the pilot had powered the trainer’s River Nurey to victory in the first division of the Devils Bit Handicap.
“When he has the horse under him, he is a serious jockey”, commented Flynn. Ask Carol tried to make all and they were tactics which looked destined to succeed for most of the journey. But Grant got a real tune from River Nurey, fit from hurdling, to wear down the leader through the final furlong.
“It’s nice to be back in the winner’s enclosure”, quipped Warren O’Connor after he had partnered Max Scal to take the first section of the Nenagh Handicap.
Max Scal rallied strongly in the closing stages to get the best of the battle with the flattering Oddshoes and score by a length.
It was the first success enjoyed by O’Connor since teaming up with Glencaulry at Sligo back in August.
Michael Kinane had his first ever ride for fellow Tipperary man, Michael Philips, and duly did the business aboard Grisham in the second division of the the same contest.
Truth to tell, Grisham won with plenty in hand, after Kinane produced him with a surging run to lead a furlong down.
“It’s nice to have a one hundred percent record for the flat season, I might retire now”, said the clearly delighted trainer.
“This horse ran well all last season and it is great he has now got his head in front.”
Francis Flood’s Blanchfield ploughed her way through the mud to easily justify favouritism in the first division of the Clonoulty Mares Bumper. Ridden with confidence by James O’Farrell, Blanchfield eased past Mighty Star with over two furlongs to run to score unextended by 11 lengths.
Said Flood: “She comes from a good family and will definitely make a jumper. A two and a half mile maiden hurdle will be next.”
Richie Harding, one of the heroes of the Cheltenham Festival with two winners, was again seen to advantage when giving Supreme Dreamer a very enterprising drive to take the second division. Liam Burke’s charge made every yard of the running, holding a huge lead early in the straight, which was whittled down to half a length by Kattie Leader at the line.
“It’s great to win with her, she’s near-impossible to train”, revealed Burke. “She will have a few runs over hurdles, but I’d imagine will soon go to stud.”
