McNamara shines on Cosmic String
He rode his fourth winner, from seven rides, for the Rosewell House maestro with a copybook display aboard Cosmic String in the Vale Of Tralee Maiden Hurdle at Tralee yesterday.
Available as high as 5-1 in the morning, he was a strong favourite on track, 11-4 from 7-2. Cosmic String travelled beautifully throughout, under a very confident drive, led two out and surged away to beat the running-on Hollywood Law by five and a half lengths.
“He loved the ground and jumped brilliantly,” said the delighted youngster.
Eric McNamara’s Low Expectations, despite being slowly away, shrugged off top weight to take the first division of the Kingdom Handicap Hurdle.
Genger looked sure to score early in the straight, but fluffed her lines at the last and Brian Byrnes seized the opportunity to drive the winner past.
“We have always felt he had ability, but he’s a quirky horse and we sent one of the lads down to the start with him,” reported McNamara.
“He’s brilliant, something else,” muttered one delighted punter in the stands after Ruby Walsh had swooped late to grab the second section of the same contest on market leader After Midnight.
Premier Hero attempted to make all, but Walsh came from way off the pace to deprive him in the dying strides by a neck.
After Midnight is owned by the nine-member Where’s Paddy Syndicate, consisting of six from Tralee, two from Cork and one Dubliner. Their only previous horse, White Mountain, which was trained by Eddie Lynam, died ten days after they bought him.
Pat Collins (18) from Castlemartyr, Co Cork, enjoyed a third success when guiding the John Kiely-trained Swiss Hall to victory in the Oakview Village Development Handicap Hurdle.
Collins got a smashing run through on the inside off the home turn and Swiss Hall galloped on strongly to beat Another Barrell.
“She’s a bit high in the handicap and will probably go over fences now,” said Kiely.
Charles Byrnes’ Asian Royale, taken at 6-1 in the morning and 100-30 to 5-2 on course, began to back-pedal heading to the third last. He coughed post-race.
Clochmhaoil Castle, now a ten-year-old, made a belated start over fences with a fine front-running performance in the Beginners Chase.
He jumped really well in the hands of John Cullen and had this in safe keeping a fair way from home.
Said trainer Paul Nolan: “He was a lowly-rated horse over hurdles and is clearly far better at this game. I'm delighted he handled the ground and we can drive on with him now.”
Off the Mark, who disappointed his handler, Philip Fenton, when third at Listowel, made no mistake in the Bumper, powering past The Halfway Bar in the closing stages.
“He ran flat last time and we couldn’t understand it, because he went there in great form,” said Fenton. We gave him a couple of days off and he bounced right back. He will have a little break now and then go over hurdles.”
Moore’s Law, having a first outing since the Punchestown Festival in April, outclassed the opposition in the Welcome To Tralee Hurdle.
He cruised ahead going to three out for Denis O’Regan, scoring hard-held by a whopping 16 lengths.
Heavily-backed favourite Tabaco ran no sort of race and was beaten a long way out. He was lame post-race.
Mountain Rose was given a typically determined drive by Shay Barry to beat Tobar Isaun in the Ballybeggan Handicap Chase.
