King's Opera hits high note as Grassick continues winning sequence
Powerfully handled by Ruby Walsh, the mare got the best of a real set-to with Dantes Reef and Paul Carberry from the last.
King’s Opera edged after the penultimate obstacle, but it took all of Walsh’s considerable strength to keep her at the head of affairs, the final verdict a head. “I thought the ground had gone against her, Ruby said we just got away with it,” reported a delighted Grassick. “The Galway Hurdle is the plan.”
Michael Hourigan has done a fine job with Black Church Lad and the seven-year-old redeemed the promise of his second to Crimson Flower at Punchestown when landing the Killarney Grand Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
The winner was always travelling sweetly, in the hands of Timmy Murphy, but looked in trouble momentarily when flattening the second from home. Strawberry Bob led at the flight before that, but Black Church Lad had plenty in reserve, striking the front going to the last and then staying on doggedly on the level.
Master Badsworth, trained at Killavullen by T J Nagle, took the Michael Lynch Plant Hire Handicap ’Chase in the hands of Barry Geraghty. He powered ahead going to the second last to beat Templeglantine a cosy four lengths.
“He’s been around a long time and deserved to win a race”, said Nagle. “He’ll have a break now, but will run through the summer.”
Charlie Swan’s Oodachee, ridden by John Levins, streaked away with the Bumper. Levins is from Kildare and this was his first winner in Ireland. He has one to his credit in England, however, on the flat for Les Eyre.
“I walked the track before racing with John and told him there was only one place to be and that was on the outside”, said Swan.
Levins carried out the instructions to the letter, bringing Oodachee with a smooth challenge to lead over a furlong out and go clear for a six lengths victory.
“A great girl and a good mare”, was trainer Tom Hogan’s summing up after Luisa Williams had partnered his Wensum Dancer to defy top weight in the Dawn Reid Ladies Handicap. It was the seventh time Wensum Dancer had done the business for her handler and for Williams, who hails from New Zealand and works for Swan, it was a fifth success.
Williams rode a copybook race, producing the daughter of Shareef Dancer with a sweeping run up the outside to lead inside the furlong pole.
Davids Lad, prevented from contesting the English National, following much controversy, finished last of three in the Grenville Construction ’Chase. He never looked happy on the rain-softened ground and was struggling from the fourth last.
In a contest in which Commanche Court failed to meet the engagement, because of coughing, Moscow Express tried to make all. But Ned Mitchell’s excellent money-spinner, Garvivonnian, badly in at the weights, stuck to his task and then mastered Moscow Express by seven lengths.
The Killarney Towers Maiden Hurdle didn’t take much winning, but, nevertheless, Dolphins View did her job well. She made every yard of the running, in the hands of Alan Donoghue, staying on dourly up the straight to beat Teo Perugo easily.
Paddy Prendergast, a trainer who has a long association with Killarney, can send his many supporters home smiling by saddling All’s Forgotten to land the Kingdom EBF Fillies Maiden at the Kerry track tonight.
The daughter of Darshaan has run two solid races already this season and the form of both is working out quite nicely. At Clonmel, she was beaten a length into second spot by Humilis and that winner went on to take a handicap at Naas last week.
All’s Forgotten followed when going down by a head to Fenella’s Link at Tipperary, with one of her main rivals now, Hidden Cave, a length away in third. Fenella’s Link didn’t let the side down when finishing a close third to Crimphill in a listed event at Navan.
