No SP’s on opening race at Fairyhouse – and more disruption likely at the Curragh
The furore centred on the decision by Ladbrokes to accept single wagers on the Fairyhouse meeting in their office at the track. Up to now betting offices on track did not facilitate such bets for the meeting at which that particular office was based. Most of the layers then worked as normal for the remainder of the night, but two committee members of their association, the INBA, refused to do so.
There is likely to be further disruption at tonight's meeting at the Curragh, which also has a Ladbrokes office on site. Paddy Power run the betting office at Cork and there will be no disruption there this afternoon.
On the track Michael Kinane got That's Hot home a short-head winner over better-fancied stable-companion Mist And Stone in the Herbertstown Handicap and, later, produced well-bred debutante Ayla with a well-timed challenge to win the fillies maiden. Ayla, a daughter of Daylami, got the better of Moskova to triumph for John Oxx and the Aga Khan.
The opener, which caused so much off-course controversy, produced another thrilling finish as Varsity Blues gave Tommy Stack another two-year-old success, short-heading Ger Lyons' Howya Now Kid.
Frances Crowley's Kempes, a winner twice last autumn, made a winning start to his three-year-old season when outpointing front-running Fly To Dubai in the Jansen & Hastings Intermediaries 10th Anniversary Handicap and will now be campaigned on the summer circuit.
Meanwhile at Wexford, the Willie Mullins-trained mare Shandon Star made a successful seasonal debut when landing the Hilary Murphy Travel Maiden in the hands of Davy Condon.
The daughter of Priolo, a dual winner over hurdles last summer, surprised her trainer by the way she quickened clear to beat Danieli, Mullins explaining: “She must have improved over the winter because two miles was too short for her over hurdles last year and she produced a nice turn of foot today.”
Shandon Star was having her first run since finishing fourth to Kentucky Charm in a valuable handicap hurdle at Galway last summer. Mullins' mare will be aimed at the Festival at Ballybrit again, although Mullins warned: “She'll definitely be going back to Galway. But that's a long way off and she'll have to pay her way before then.”
