Berry does the business for ‘tired of waiting’ Murphy
It turned out to be a hoax and the opening contest, the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden, went away at about 3.28, some 43 minutes behind time, as a result. It was won by Juniper Berry, the first horse John Murphy has trained for Susan Magnier. Kieren Fallon, reportedly caught in traffic, missed the ride and was replaced by Wayne Lordan.
The daughter of Galileo made just about all the running, finding plenty for pressure in the closing stages to resist the persistent challenge of Carribean Sunset.
The winner did drift to the right through the final hundred yards, but Lordan did everything to keep her straight, he had his whip in the correct hand, and an alteration to the placings was never a possibility, following an inquiry.
Said Murphy: “We have always thought a lot of her, she’s tough. We have been waiting and waiting for better ground and just got tired of waiting.”
Murphy completed in excess of a 57-1 double when Dancesowell took the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
Capably handled by Ben Curtis, the daughter of Sadler’s wells was in front at half way and made the rest. It was a sixth success for Curtis.
“She’s a big filly and just took time to come to hand”, reported Murphy.
Mark Loughnane celebrated the birth of his second child the previous day, a son called Jack, by saddling Forthright to take the featured Brandon Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
Bonne Noel’s tried to make all, but Ruby Walsh produced Forthright to take a narrow lead at the last and then drove him out to score by a length and a quarter.
“He’s not ungenuine, but pricks his ears and just does enough”, said Loughnane. “That’s not his ground, but it was a big pot and we took a chance. He deserves a break now.”
Walsh landed a double when Paco Jack justified odds of 1-7 when cruising to victory in the Lee Strand three-year-old Hurdle.
He made most of the running and hardly broke sweat to beat Sheshali by 18 lengths, to go with the 17 lengths demolition job he did on his rivals first time over jumps at Roscommon.
Damien Byrne represented trainer, Joe Crowley, and said: “He’ll have a little break and then go for a winners’ of two at Listowel.”
Tom Cooper’s Indian Four revelled in the surface to easily win the Ballybeggan Racegoers’ Club Handicap.
Powered ahead off the home turn by Declan McDonogh, she shot away to beat Shesthebiscuit by three lengths.
Said Cooper: “Back to a mile, soft ground, no stalls and lucky to get in, she was only number eleven in the ballot, made the difference.”
Princely Hero found a shade of odds-on, from evens, in the Club Fabric Handicap and when the front-runner shrugged off the flattering Dutch Bullet early in the straight it seemed to be plain sailing.
But the outsider of the four, Frank Ennis’ Freedom At Last, was soon challenging and was well on top in the last furlong.
Freedom At Last was partnered by 16-year-old John Gerrard from Sligo town. He’s had just five rides and this was his first winner.
The Bumper went to well-backed favourite Duartin, who got to the front before the home turn and stayed on to beat the flattering Baladiva by a decisive seven lengths. He is likely to go over hurdles now, according to trainer, Kieran Purcell.
