Kilbeggan proves likely Lad as O’Regan lands another major pot
O'Regan gave Michael Hourigan's gelding a fine drive, producing him from off a fast pace at exactly the right time.
Luxi Rive and Bon Temps Rouler carried them along at a spanking gallop, but were never going to be able to maintain it.
Four from home Dbest led and turning in to the straight was pursued by Blue Corrig and the winner.
Kilbeggan Lad was in front before the last and O'Regan only had to nudge him out to score by a cosy two and a half lengths.
“He's a nice horse, there's a big race in him”, said O'Regan. “I had them all covered going to the last.”
Hourigan, who has some 80-100 horses for the winter, indicated that O'Regan and Andrew McNamara are set to share the rides.
“He was sick all last year”, said Hourigan of Kilbeggan Lad. “He may come back here on Saturday, having a little preference for going left-handed.”
Aidan O'Brien's newcomer Shark Tooth, taken at 5-4 in the morning and always odds-on at the track, proved a costly failure in the Irish Stallion Farms' EBF Maiden.
Badly drawn, he came away very slowly and was then hampered before half way when attempting to close from behind.
He could never get in a blow, with victory going to Dermot Weld's newcomer, Rare Delight, driven to the front inside the furlong pole by Pat Smullen.
It hasn't been the best of weeks for Smullen, suspended for ten days on Tuesday, and he quipped: “I'll try and get as many winners as I can for a little while!” Smullen has decided not to appeal against the suspension.
Shark Tooth, on veterinary examination, was found to have been struck into behind.
Disobey, an English importation from Mick Channon's, gave Colm Murphy his first success on the flat in the Listowel Vintners' Maiden. Bought at Newmarket, she eased up on the outside in the straight for Tadhg O'Shea to beat Full Victory.
“I have her about two months and she has schooled well, so we will mix it”, reported Murphy.
O'Shea completed a spectacular 194-1 double when sweeping through late on Tom Hogan's Fire Finch to grab front-running The Castles close home in the Helena Sheahan Memorial Handicap.
It was a 17th success of the campaign for Hogan, his best ever. He said: “She's a nice filly, it's just taken time to get to the bottom of her.
“She appreciated Tadhg's strong handling. No stalls were a help as well, as she tends to come out slowly at times.”
O'Shea's total for the season now stands at 35. His previous best was 34, two years ago.
It was a case of another 194-1 double, this time for Hogan, after his Sonnyanjoe had scampered clear early in the straight for David Flannery in the Spectra Photo Labs Handicap Hurdle.
Rossbane Valley, a morning-price gamble, ran prominently for much of the trip, while on-course gamble, Roundstone Lad, stayed on for third.
Tom Ryan took a fall from Wotsitooya in this contest and was removed to hospital in Tralee suffering from concussion. He has been stood down for 21 days.
Edward O'Grady's Laragh House proved far too good for his rivals in the Kevin McManus Beginners Chase.
Always near the front for Paddy Flood, he edged on going to the fifth last and won unextended by ten lengths.
“When you have a staying chaser who jumps as well as him it's a help”, remarked O'Grady.
Andrew McNamara continued his good run when giving The Spoonplayer an excellent ride to win the John and Terry Moriarty Memorial Maiden Hurdle.
McNamara took no prisoners, sending Henry de Bromhead's inmate on the long surge for home heading to three out.
Heavily-backed Martinstown, 7-2 to 9-4, cruised up to challenge heading to the next, but blundered badly and, though rallying, could never quite get back at the winner.
Stadium Project went off the uneasy favourite and never travelled or jumped well enough to get in a blow.
Christy Donoghue's Silent Oscar was impressive in winning the Bumper. Taken into the lead by Colman Sweeney over two furlongs out, he stretched clear in the straight.
“He will go for a maiden hurdle now and we have had Cheltenham in our sights for a long time”, said Donoghue.
Betting with the bookmakers yesterday was marginally up on last year at €1,741,390. The layers held €323,409 on the bumper, which was the biggest betting race of the week.
* The attendance on Wednesday for the Kerry National was a massive 27,174.
