Waltons waltzes home for McNamara

ANDREW McNAMARA partnered a first ever winner for Tony Mullins when Waltons Mountain ran his rivals ragged in the Kanturk Handicap Chase at Cork yesterday.

“I am fairly certain it is the first time I have actually ridden a horse for Tony”, reported the very much in-form rider.

The Norwich gelding flew his fences and by the sixth from home held an unassailable lead. McNamara allowed him drift towards the stands side in the straight and Waltons Mountain crossed the line 20 lengths clear of favourite, Mahdi de Coeur.

Mullins went to Roscommon, but indications from that track were that Waltons Mountain is likely to have one more run on the way to the Galway Plate. Commented McNamara: “He was very quick and keen and wants to go left-handed!”

Mullins and Mark Watts, on the mark on Saturday with Stadium Project, teamed up with Turks Wood earlier in the day to take the opening Fermoy Maiden Hurdle.

Positively handled by Watts, Turks Wood was in front at half way and skipped well clear from three out to score unextended by ten lengths.

Tom Foley's Sans Souci Boy, now an eight-year-old, finally enjoyed a turn over flights when staying on dourly in the Navigation Road Hurdle.

Given a strong ride by Garrett Cotter, he made all the running. Sans Souci Boy was none too good over the last two, but held on for dear life to hold the late rush of Rory Sunset by half a length. Commented Foley: “He thinks hurdles are too small and wants fences. He is likely to start off in a three mile and one at Kilbeggan.”

Gilt Benefit, not without friends in the betting ring, was given an enterprising drive by Barry Geraghty to take the Mourneabbey Handicap Hurdle. Paul Nolan's mare made all and had this in safe keeping a fair way out.

The contest was marred by the fatal fall of well-backed favourite Look Between Us at the last. He was a beaten fourth at the time.

It soon proved a memorable afternoon for Nolan. He saddled Kasnani to score at Roscommon and when Dix Villez took the Cork Racecourse Mallow Barbeque Chase it was the first time Nolan had managed three winners in the one day.

Dix Villez led or disputed for much of the journey with Vic Ville. He edged ahead approaching the home turn and held Shining Lights on the run in with a degree of ease.

Nolan was represented by his brother and assistant, James, who remarked: “He loves that ground and wants every yard of three miles. We will consider the Midlands National at Kilbeggan and the Galway Plate, although if he goes to Ballybrit he will be dropping down in distance.”

The layers got a decent result when 20-1 shot Vanbrugh beat 25-1 chance Strand Line in the Glantane Handicap Hurdle. The Pat Kelly trained six-year-old powered ahead at the final flight to give 18-year-old Galway pilot, Alain Cawley, his first winner.

It was a remarkable performance on the part of Vanbrugh, taking into account he hadn't been seen since finishing last of 15 behind Classic Approach in a maiden at Listowel back in September.

The Paul Cashman ridden and trained Cashback Rose, carrying the colours of Michael Smiddy from Dungourney, Co Cork, made just about all in the Bumper. “She ran in three points and didn't win, but is very hard to get fit”, explained Cashman. “She loved the ground and is for sale.”