Magnet For Money lives up to his name
Trained by that tormentor of bookmakers, Tony Martin, the five-year-old was put in at what looked a short price, 6-4.
But Magnet For Money’s followers thought it was real value, quickly waded in and he contracted to 9-10.
Carrying the colours of the six-member Six Of Us Syndicate from Kerry, he travelled sweetly from the start and could be mapped as the likely winner a fair way from home.
Ruby Walsh produced Magnet For Money to lead before the final flight and he soon eased away to beat Jimmy Spot On with a bit in hand.
Commented Martin: “He’s a nice horse, which we bought off Paul Magnier at Christmas. It is a great win for the owners.”
Walsh completed a double when giving Tomorrow’s Dream a dashing drive to land the John F McGuire Beginners Chase.
Michael Halford’s charge is often less than the bravest, but Walsh made up his mind from the start and the imposing nine-year-old made all, giving an impeccable display of jumping.
“He’s a naturul front-runner and got a great ride”, reported Halford. “He goes well on that ground and was a handicapper against beginners.
“He will go for a novice chase or a handicap now, depending on what Noel O’Brien (handicapper) does.”
David Wachman’s Pyrenees lost his maiden tag when taking the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Premier Nursery.
Given a typical Kieren Fallon drive, the Rock Of Gibraltar colt swept through inside the furlong pole to beat Hebridean cosily.
Said Wachman: “He is quite a nice horse and is improving all the time. He didn’t like the soft ground in the summer, but ran better on the all-weather at Dundalk last time. He might run in another nursery and could be a stakes horse next season.”
Tuscan Evening was backed from 5-4 to evens for the opening Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden, but performed nowhere near her rating to fill a disappointing third spot.
The favourite ran fast for much of the journey, but found little for pressure, as Tracey Collins’ Melanesia kicked fom home at the furlong pole.
“She has improved for every run and, hopefully, will go on from here”, said Ms Collins. “She’s a well-bred filly and getting a bracket was the most important thing.”
Emmet Butterly, who is now working for Noel Meade, was seen to good effect when partnering his new boss’ Queen Althea to get the best of a tough battle with Ruby Walsh and Paco Jack in the Devon Inn Hotel three-year-old Hurdle.
The pair raced to the last stride for stride, were in the air together, but on the flat it was Queen Althea who found more to score by a neck.
Walsh, however, lost his whip a few strides after that final flight and was of the opinion it probably cost him the race-and a treble!
Finns Cross, trained locally by Seamus Lynch, put up a fine performance to defy top weight in the second section of the Ladbrokes’ Ireland Handicap Hurdle.
He shot away for Denis O’Regan between the final two flights and, though running down the last, was still six lengths to the good at the line.
“This is a very good horse, who will be a chaser in time”, reported Lynch. “He was due to come back here on Saturday, but unfortunately has given himself a very bad wrench to his near fetlock.”
The Joe Crowley-trained Seven Disciples, aggressively ridden by Brian O’Connell, took the Shannon Bumper.
Always near the front, he powered up the straight to easily beat Benny’s Quest and Ah Ya Boy Ya.
Damien Byrne represented Crowley and said: “I fancied him, he was working really, really well. A winners’ of one will be next.”
David Marnane enjoyed a welcome turn when Fancy Feathers and Chris Hayes justified favouritism in the Bank Of Ireland handicap.
Redeeming the promise of her second to Katirisa at the Curragh, the daughter of Redback forged ahead over a furlong down to beat Wesaidneveragain a length and a half.
