Grangeclare Lark soars to new heights in mares hurdle
The daughter of Old Vic has proved a tremendous money-spinner for Dessie Hughes and this was her sixth success in seven runs this season.
When Blazing Sky kicked away turning for home, she looked sure to score, as the winner and heavily-backed favourite, Shuil Aris, struggled to go with her.
Blazing Sky, though, began to falter approaching the last and, suddenly, the other pair were in the game again.
At the back of the obstacle, however, there was only going to be one result, with Grangeclare Lark shooting up the far rail to win going away by two and a half lengths from Shuil Aris.
“I’m a little surprised she got outpaced heading to the straight, maybe she’s better over two and a half”, reported Hughes.
“She likes that ground and it will probably be next season before you see her again.”
Noel Meade has been going through a sticky patch, but the wheels were back on the wagon after Mick The Man benefited from a brilliant Nina Carberry drive to win the Paddy Power Champion Bumper.
She conjured a fine late spurt from the hitherto mildly disappointing gelding to sweep through and beat Woodbine Willie and Shirley Casper.
“I told Nina to ride him whatever way she wanted, so she said she’d ride him to be placed”, said a delighted and, one suspects, relieved Meade.
“I think he’s better on this ground. He won’t run again this season, is a brilliant jumper and will come back over hurdles.”
Dermot Weld’s Bobs Pride followed up his recent win at Fairyhouse with a smooth display in the Osberstown Developments Handicap Hurdle, giving Ruby Walsh his first of the Festival.
He beat Bien Bronze by three lengths, but was value for a lot more than that. Weld thinks very highly of his charge.
“He’s a class act and I think he can go all the way to the top over hurdles”, remarked Weld, after Bobs Pride had cruised ahead early in the straight.
“I have an open mind, but think he will be let off for the summer. He will come back at the tail-end of the flat season and could be a horse for the English Cambridgeshire.”
Grand National winning jockey Robert Power took the opening Aon Hurdle on Jessica Harrington’s Phantom Lad.
A change of tactics worked a treat and Phantom Lad made every yard of the running. He eventually beat fast-finishing Ingratitude by less than two lengths, but would have scored by a lot more only for blundering over the final two flights.
Said Harrington: “I am delighted, Robert felt we should have made a lot more use of him at Fairyhouse.
“He stayed on great, will run through the summer and we will probably step him up in trip.”
Robbie Colgan conjured a terrific late burst from market leader Royal County Star to grab the Ulster Bank Handicap Chase.
Out the back for most of the journey, Colgan gradually worked Tony Martin’s charge into the contest.
Carrigeen Kalmia, in front four out, still held the call at the last as Royal County Star closed.
The winner went right through the obstacle, but rallied in fine style to get up close home and score by three parts of a length.
Martin was loud in his praise of Colgan. “The horse was going nowhere through the race, he’s probably too slow on that ground”, said Martin.
“It was a great riding performance by the lad.”
Pat Flynn, watching the race at home, will have enjoyed the victory of his Pacolet in the Three Novice Chase.
Stepping up nicely from his victory in a moderate event at Cork, Pacolet was given a fine drive by Shay Barry to power to the front going to the last to beat Reisk Superman.
Derek O’Connor, successful in one of the bumpers on Tuesday aboard Gonebeyondrecall, was on the mark again when guiding Joe Blake to land the Cox’s Cash and Carry Champion Hunters Chase.
Joe Blake stormed clear from the final fence to beat It’s Like That and Ned Kelly, who found nothing when coming off the bridle.
The attendance yesterday was 20,153, down from 21,057 a year ago.
