Patient tactics pay off as Kinane doubles up
Kinane exercised patient tactics on both horses, coming from last to first and prompting Willie Mullins, trainer of Marigold, to comment: “I suppose he was no handicap to her.”
Marigold, a course and a distance winner at the 2002 Festival here, was still last as they began the climb out of the dip. But Kinane crept closer on the outside before launching a strong challenge which saw the mare lead inside the final furlong to beat long time leader Brave Geronimo.
“Mick said that they went plenty fast enough,” said Mullins.
“He said that they flew early and he felt that they would pay for it coming up the hill. How right he was.”
Mullins also confirmed that Marigold, a half sister to The Great Gatsby and Magritte, will not run again over hurdles and he intends trying to get some black type for her in the coming weeks.
Earlier Kinane, on Kiptanui, recovered from losing six or eight lengths at the start before being produced with a late surge to deny Badger Kennedy in the Great Southern Hotels Galway Handicap.
Cocorica, trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by Declan McDonogh, justified favouritism in the opening two-year old maiden, holding off Alexander Duchess, on which Johnny Murtagh put up 1lb overweight.
Trainer John Oxx, who reported Alamshar “in great shape” after his Champion Stakes effort, landed the Derrinstown Stud Maiden, but not with well backed favourite Green Castle. Instead, Frost Fair, carrying the colours of Sheikh Mohammed, sprinted clear in the final furlong for Jamie Moriarty’s 10th winner.
Hehasalife, trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by his son Paul, gave a fine display of jumping to beat Wests Awake in the Galway Bay FM beginners chase, in which hot favourite Corskeagh Thunder proved a big flop, finishing a well beaten six.
But punters went home happy after odds on favourites LarkHill Jo and Blanc C’est Blanc landed the two hurdle events on the card, the latter being left clear when his nearest rival Irish Lady crashed at the final obstacle.
