Paradise for Foley and Fitzgerald
But the most significant race of the day, the Brogans Bakery Novice Hurdle, saw the Meade-trained odds-on favourite Wild Passion go down by a head to the Mick Fitzgerald-ridden Royal Paradise, making his debut for trainer Tom Foley.
Fourth in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, Royal Paradise was always close to the pace and battled back well when headed by Wild Passion on the run-in.
Mick Fitgerald, returning to Roscommon after a lengthy break, was impressed by Royal Paradise. “He’s very like his half-brother Royal Rosa. He’s tough and has plenty of potential.
“He’ll have no problem staying two and a half miles and would be suited by a stiffer track.”
Trainer Tom Foley will campaign Royal Paradise in the top novice races over the next months and, on the evidence of this clash, both Foley’s charge and runner-up, Wild Passion, will more than pay their way.
Earlier, the experienced Always initiated Meade’s treble - and a double for stable-jockey Paul Carberry - when recording a hard-earned victory over front-running Old Flame in the Grade 3 Kilbegnet Novice Chase.
The complexion of this race changed dramatically at the third last fence when favourite Kahuna (in second place) crashed, badly hampering Jack Of The Cross (third).
This incident left eventual winner Always tracking Old Flame. But Carberry’s mount looked in trouble at the second last before coming back on the bridle between the last two fences and then, on the run-in, being all-out to triumph by three-quarters of a length.
Trainer Meade stressed that Always just about “got away” with racing on this soft surface and does not intend campaigning him in winter ground.
Meade and Carberry followed-up when Mullacash, returning after a five-month absence, registered his first win over fences, cruising clear approaching the final fence to land the Boyle Handicap Chase.
The champion trainer expressed his surprise that debutant Guantama Bay was sent off at 7/1 for his success in the Keenan Bookmakers Flat Race.
This Roselier gelding, a “nice staying prospect” according to his trainer, was driven clear by Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden for an emphatic win.
In the flat action, Rory Cleary notched his 26th success of the season and clinched the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Championship when winning the last leg of the series on the Eoin Griffin-trained Don’t Be Bitin.
Fittingly, Cleary had to battle with his nearest rival in the series, Cathy Gannon (on Cashmere King) through the last three furlongs before snatching victory by the narrowest margin.
In the earlier maidens, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Napoleon, strongly ridden by Jamie Spencer, gained a long overdue win in the first division of the Fairymount Maiden while Night Fairy (Niall McCullagh) gave Curragh trainer Michael Grassick a twenty-seventh wedding anniversary present in the second division.
Devious Diva, trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by Declan McDonogh, justified favouritism in the opening two-year-old fillies maiden, getting the better of Michael Kinane’s mount Sogno Verde after a protracted duel.
