Head Waiter doubles O’Sullivan’s flat tally
The first horse to carry the colours of O'Sullivan's neighbour, Bob Healy, and partnered by another local, Tadhg O'Shea, the Lend A Hand gelding led with less than two furlongs to run.
Dermot Weld's newcomer, Bling It On, was soon in hot pursuit but still half a length down at the line.
Commented O'Sullivan: “I bought him at Newmarket for £8,000, he's a lovely genuine horse. He might go to Galway for a handicap, but was purchased with hurdling in mind.”
John Oxx's Thiazi was backed in the ring as if defeat was totally out of the question, finding 1-3 from 4-5. On the track, however, he showed no enthusiasm for the job on hand, finishing a well beaten third.
All the ‘wide boys’ wanted to be on the same horse in the Excellent Choice Hurdle - Athlumney Lad - and, as a result, Barrack Buster drifted out to an extraordinary 9-4, returned a just as extraordinary 2-1.
If anywhere near her best, she did have a recent pop on the flat at Wexford, there could only be one winner and so it proved. Barrack Buster made every yard of the running and was much too strong for the market-leader in the straight.
Niall Madden rode the mare for Martin Brassil, the duo who landed the Aintree Grand National with Numbersixvalverde, and Brassil said: “She bounced out of the race at Wexford. I couldn't believe her price. “She's in the Galway Plate, but will hardly get in off a mark of 110. I'd love to win a flat race with her and more than likely she will run in a 40-60 on the level at Galway.”
Redstone Dancer, up a whopping 13lbs for scoring at the Curragh previously, made light of it in the Ballyclough Handicap. She swooped late under Pat Shanahan, grabbing Deerpark, who led under two furlongs down.
Trainer, Sheena Collins, said: “I don't think she will run on ground as fast as that again. She wants a dig and could go for a Listed race next.”
Oily Colman gave Tramore handler, Pat Flavin, a turn when shrugging of a minor error two out to beat Whenever Wherever in the Goggin and Buckley Mares Handicap Hurdle.
“She's been knocking on the door and might go to Killarney for a two mile and six next Tuesday, if she gets in”, reported Flavin.
For pilot, Andrew Leigh, it was a change of luck, having only returned from seven weeks on the sidelines (broken collarbone) at Downpatrick on Thursday.
Aidan O'Brien's newcomer Yellowstone was always odds-on to take the moderate Coolmore Mull Of Kintyre EBF Maiden and duly did the business. Pushed ahead with less than two furlongs to run by Seamus Heffernan, the son of Rock Of Gibraltar found enough to beat fellow first-timer, Jeu De Roseau, by a length.
Best finish of the night came in the Sand and Gravel Products Maiden Hurdle with Flaming James getting the best of the battle, by a head, with the dead-heaters Stealing Moments and All Except Alice.
Stealing Moments was probably unlucky. He was in front, and travelling well, when screwing the second last, losing much needed momentum.
Jessica Harrington's newcomer, Cork All Star, scorched to the front early in the straight to beat front-running All Noble six lengths in the Bumper. Mark Fahey (19) was in the plate and it was his fourth success.
