Mrs Gillow lands another nice pot for Bolger yard
Beautifully handled by promising 5lbs claimer, David Moran, it was the five-year-old who dug deepest when the need was greatest.
Moran produced her with impeccable timing between Whoneedswings, who tried to make all, and Kevkat inside the furlong pole and she crossed the line three quarters of a length and a short head to the good.
The little ease in the surface certainly helped Mrs Gillow, while it probably found out Kevkat, who seemed to be going best of all early in the straight.
Said Moran: “I finished placed on her in an Irish Cesarewitch (second to Clara Allen), she's a good tough mare.”
Almighty Jade went off marginal favourite and ran well to claim fourth. He was full of running approaching the home turn, but a mile and six in the end appeared to be further than he wanted to travel.
Oscar's Advance, trained by Christy Roche for J P McManus, was all the rage for the Kerry Petroleum Arthur Blennerhassett Novice Chase. Taken from 6-4 to 11-10, he was tanking heading to the third last, but crashed into the obstacle and was beaten in a matter of strides.
Victory went to the Noel Meade-trained Billy Bonnie, who shrugged of main rival, Lugante, over the final two fences.
“He's tiny and lazy, but jumps fences well”, said Meade. “If he gets into the Kerry National (Listowel) at the bottom of the weights then that's where he'll go, if not it will be a winners' race down there for him.”
Pat Smullen gave Silent Confession a fine drive to take the Banna Leisure Centre Maiden, after the colt proved strongest in the market, 9-2 to 100-30 favourite.
He clearly didn't get 12 furlongs at Galway previously and relished this mile trip, after Smullen had been very positive. Silent Confession drew the coveted number one stall and was out and away like a flash. The son of Selkirk made all and the late surge of Rain Rush was never a real concern.
“That was a fine front-running ride from Pat and the boss (father, Dermot Weld) says he will go for a handicap next”, reported trainer's son, Mark.
Erra Go On provided in-form Lusk, Co Dublin trainer Ado McGuinness with another success in the Kirbys' Brogue Inn-Lanterns Hotel Handicap.
He went up 6lbs for a three parts of a length victory at Tipperary a week ago, but it was never going to stop him.
Mick Kinane pushed Erra Go On ahead over a furlong down and didn't have to be in any way hard on his partner to hold Grisham by a neck.
“He came to us in mid-July and has turned inside out”, said McGuinness. “I thought a mile might be stretching things, he will go to Listowel now.”
French-import, the Martin Brassil-trained Mister Farmer, was a gamble in the Tom McGiff Heating and Plumbing Maiden Hurdle, finding 2-1 from double those odds.
He set a spanking gallop under Ruby Walsh, but market-leader Balakan and Paddy Flood coasted past after two out to beat his rival by a comfortable length and a half.
Winning trainer, Michael Halford, commented: “I was worried about the ground. He's done plenty this year and that might be enough now.”
Eamon Tyrrell's charges are in good shape and his Dapple Dawn followed up a recent win at Bellewstown by landing the Imperial Hotel Handicap.
She did the business by a short head then and the margin here was exactly the same. The daughter of Celtic Swing made all, just lasting out from Imco Tendence. Dapple Dawn is likely to turn out again today in another seven furlongs handicap.
Niall Madden, just returned from representing Ireland in Australia, rode a winner on his first day back when guiding Emotional Article to victory in the Ballygarry House Hotel Owen McGillicuddy Cup Handicap Hurdle.
Madden made has move a fair way out, three from home and Emotional Article did the rest, galloping on well to hold the blinkered Mouftari.
Aerlite Rooler, taken to the front long before the home turn, kept going to beat Ginandit in the Bank Of Ireland Handicap Hurdle.
