In The High Grass mows down rivals
Joyce is undoubtedly good value for his 7lb. claim. And his boss, Tom Taaffe, was full of praise for the young rider as he gave In The High Grass a patient ride before tackling On The Net at the second last fence before forging clear on the run-in to score by five and a half lengths.
Taaffe explained: “This horse has been progressive all year and fully deserved to win a decent pot after two good runs at Leopardstown. He did it well and Adrian gave him a smashing ride.
“We went through our plan this morning, knowing that there would be plenty of pace in the race. He did everything right.”
In The High Grass was recording his second win over fences. Taaffe added: “I’ll step him up in trip when the ground dries out. He’s progressive and might be capable of winning another one.”
Streets Of Gold, a 106 rated performer trained for J P McManus by Christy Roche, opened his account over hurdles when scoring a smooth success over fellow joint-favourite Kilpedder in the opening Tetratema Son Of The Tetrarch Maiden Hurdle.
Confidently handled by Alan Crowe, the well-backed five-year-old delivered his challenge at the second last hurdle before easing clear to win by nine lengths in ground that was barely raceable.
Frank Berry, Racing Manager to McManus, commented: “We were a long time waiting for that. But he did it well and probably handled the conditions better than most. We won’t be aiming too high with him — he’ll go for a ‘winners of one’ or go back into another handicap.”
Curragh trainer Edgar Byrne saddled Sandhurst to win the three-mile Spring Double At Gowran Park Maiden Hurdle in only his second start, building on the promise of his recent debut at Thurles to outstay Sable Bay by twelve lengths.
Byrne said: “He’s a lovely, big, backward horse. He ran a cracking race first time at Thurles and has fulfilled the promise today. He’s a brother to Cill Fhair, which won two chases for me, and I see him as a nice chaser for next season. He’ll run in a winners’ hurdle first, to give him more experience.”
The Garryrichard Stud Tetratema Cup, one of the traditional features of the hunter-chasing season, went to the John Murphy-trained Don’t Be Daft, which had to work hard to see off Beachcomber Bay by a length.
Ridden by Martin Hickey, Don’t Be Daft was always close to the pace but had to be hard-ridden to edge ahead at the last and stayed on stoutly. An improving seven-year-old, he’ll he looks a cut above most of the current crop of ‘hunters’.
Chasing debutant Woodhouse, ridden by Robert Power, landed the Thomastown Beginners Chase for Jessica Harrington, proving too strong for Outlaw Princess from the second last fence.
Jessica Harrington commented: “I was a bit worried when he was left in front. Robert said he was doing nothing for him, but he had schooled well. I’m very happy with him. I’ll look for a two-mile ‘winners of one ‘ for him, or might step him up to two and a half on good ground.”
The Sunnyhill Stud Flat race, a bumper for point-to-pointers, went to the Mouse Morris-trained Scavenger, carrying the War Of Attrition colours of Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud.
Having hit the front turning form home, the Kevin Power-ridden five-year-old looked set for a convincing win but, tiring in the very testing conditions, had to battle hard to keep Killeen Vic at bay by a half-length.
