Murphy and King Carew pals again
Murphy took him to the front at the second and King Carew bowled along merrily to make the rest and beat Pro Dancer a comfortable five lengths.
“He’s a bit cold at this game”, admitted trainer, Michael Hourigan. “He is still remembering Galway.
“I put blinkers on to keep him focused. I think he might have gone a long way over fences, but for that Galway fall.”
King Carew had his main danger removed when Janidou, in second spot at the time, fell seven out. Unfortunately, he broke a leg and had to be put down.
Hourigan also fitted blinkers on Sargon in an effort to get him to put his best foot forward, and it worked a treat, as he ran out a clear-cut winner of the Boogie Nights Maiden Hurdle.
“When your back is to the wall you’ll try anything”, quipped the in-form handler.
Sargon certianly stripped fit and well, easing to the front over five out for Murphy and then stretching right away to score in a canter.
Ballynattin Buck, a horse who has disappointed more often than not, found the company to his liking in the Coyle Hamilton Insurance Beginners Chase.
In truth this was a weak contest, with Barry Cash allowing his charge to stride on heading out for the last time.
The winner was soon clear and survived a bad blunder, his only semblance of a mistake, at the penultimate obstacle to beat Le Frere by 15 lengths.
Said trainer, Arthur Moore: “He will keep going through the summer. He handled the ground well and we will now look for some handicaps.”
The John Murphy owned and trained Brigadier Brown, absent since Febrary, outclassed his rivals in the Patrickswell GAA Handicap Hurdle.
He was stylishly handled by 7lbs claiming amateur, Andrew McNamara, who continues to impress and certainly won’t be out of place in the pro ranks, should he ever decide to make that step.
McNamara eased the top weight to the front over five out and Brigadier Brown hardly turned a hair in the straight to easily beat Gold Flo.
“He likes good ground, not as firm as today, and that’s why he hasn’t run for a while”, reported Murphy.
“I can’t wait for him to go chasing, but Andrew says to leave him over hurdles, he will only get better.”
Barry Geraghty, who sprained his thumb in a fall from Brutto Facie at Gowran Park on Sunday, missed a winning ride aboard Michael Halford’s Phariva in the opening maiden hurdle.
Robert Power proved a more than capable deputy on the grey son of Phardante, making his first appearance since finishing second at Tramore in August.
Phariva ran his rivals ragged from the front and had this in safe keeping three out, beating Longueville Quest an easy five lengths.
Favourite Rory Sunset, backed to 6-4 from a little 3’s, didn’t jump with any fluency and was beaten a long way from home.
Tour De Force, who ran well enough on the flat at the Curragh previously, gave Eoin Griffin a welcome turn in the Mr Binman Handicap Hurdle.
The 3-1 favourite looked sure to score, under a confident Davy Russell drive, heading to the second last.
But he hesitated at the flight and Russell had to get serious with him to master Darby Wall half way up the run in.
Griffin completed a 35-1 double when his newcomer, Breaking Ball, took the Bumper.
Bred by Jim Bolger, the Paul Tobin partnered Erins Isle gelding flashed through late to collar the flattering Adam’s Belle.
