Well backed Practice Match toys with rivals
A strong favourite in the ring, he jumped really well for Conor O’Dwyer, who allowed him lead on the down hill approach to the home turn.
Allez Petit Luis tried hard to close in the straight, but was a couple of lengths down and clearly held when departing at the final fence.
Said McNamara: “Conor felt he didn’t like the tacky ground, but he’s improving away all the time and there’s a good race in him.”
It took the trainer’s tally for the campaign in Ireland to 17, his best ever, to add to six in England and Strangely Brown’s valuble success in France.
The market in the INH Stallion Owners’ EBF Novice Hurdle very much centred on Clew Bay Cove, evens to 9-10, and Vintage Treasure, 7-4 from 5-2.
But neither of them could get to grips with McNamara’s Ponmeoath, who made every yard of the running in the hands of Brian Byrnes.
Clew Bay Cove and Vintage Treasure tried their respective cases, but Ponmeoath was never going to stop and was far too good for his rivals in the closing stages.
“I thought Brian was superb”, said McNamara. “We worked the horse in front at home on Wednesday and he went well. I didn’t think he’d beat the other two, but we did get our tactics right.”
Former winning pointer The Bosses Nephew redeemed the promise of his run at Leopardstown last month when taking the Coffey Construction Maiden Hurdle. Positively handled by in-form Davy Russell, the Flemensfirth gelding led after three out and held on well close home to hold the late rush of McEvoy.
“He will go for a handicap, if the handicapper isn’t too hard on him”, reported trainer, John Brassil. “Chasing will be his game next season and he is a horse who should get better with time.”
Brassil and Russell combined to land a double when another ex-winning pointer, Tradaree Beau, took the Newton Abbot Racecourse Handicap Hurdle.
Russell made his move two out, grabbing a decisive advantage to beat top weight and favourite, Captain Mac. The market-leader was a trifle unlucky, making a bad mistake six from home and always struggling afterwards to get in a blow.
Commented Brassil: “This is a horse who should be good over fences.”
Russsell is enjoying a tremendous campaign and this brace took his total to a whopping 57, already well clear of his previous best of 49 last season.
Gerry Cully’s Middlemarch, bought privately in Germany, streaked away with the Coffey Construction Maiden Hurdle.
Confidently handled by Davy Condon, Middlemarch cruised ahead before two out to score unextended by six lengths.
“He’s a horse who cannot go left-handed and we will now find a winners’ of one somewhere”, said Cully.
The stewards inquired into the performance of Snowfox, who finished fifth. They found that she had not been allowed run on her merits and pilot, Adam O’Neill, had made insufficient effort to achieve his best possible placing.
O’Neill was suspended for 21 racedays and ordered to forfeit his fee. Snowfox was suspended from running for 60 days and trainer, Joe Crowley, was cautioned to give clearer instructions to his riders, particularly such an inexperiEnced rider, in the future.
Eugene O’Sullivan’s Chapel Cross jumped to his right over the last two fences in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase, but still had far too many guns for Permiya.
Chapel Cross was partnered by William McCarthy, who comes from Glantane near Mallow. This was his first success in Ireland, but he is with Tom George in England and has nine under his belt in that country.
Edward O’Grady’s newcomer Clopf quickened in style for Kevin Power over a furlong down to beat fellow first-timer, Colm Murphy’s Big Zeb, in the Bumper.
“He looks very nice and jumps well”, reported O’Grady. “I’m not going to say he’s heading for Cheltenham, I don’t quite know what the plan is.”
