Bolero hits right note
For 20-year-old Jackson it was a third success of the meeting to go with Dingle Belle on Tuesday and Archie Boy on Wednesday.
Coolness personified, he brought Dark Bolero with a powerful challenge to sweep clear between the last two flights to beat always prominent The Spoonplayer and Stage Manager.
“This is a horse for which we have always had huge time”, reported winning trainer, Philip Rothwell.
“He was a bit unlucky at Galway the last day and went up 5lbs for finishing second. We then decided to claim off him here.
“That ride was a credit to Shane, I am very proud of him. He is likely to go to Cheltenham in November next and could be a Galway Hurdle horse next summer.”
Ruby Walsh’s fears that the rain-softened ground might find out Stage Manager proved well founded. He came with every chance facing up to two out, but then could not quicken with the impressive winner.
Breaking Silence left a poor effort at Tralee solidly behind with a much improved display in the Kevin McManus Beginners Chase.
This far better ground and stepping up six furlongs in trip certainly showed Tom Taaffe’s charge in a far better light.
He jumped well and was pushed ahead coming away from three out by Tom Ryan. Spes Ultima tried his case in the straight, but Breaking Silence bounded clear to score snugly by four lengths.
“It’s great to get that out of the way”, exclaimed Taaffe. “Tralee over two miles wasn’t ideal, but I wanted to get him back on track after he fell first time up at Galway.
“I will talk to J P McManus and Frank Berry before deciding what to do next. He will definitely have a little break of four or five weeks to freshen up.
“He likes good ground and might go to England, although the forecast here at home seems favourable enough in the long-term.”
Dreamy Gent, who ran his rivals ragged when scoring at Galway, was again seen to advantage in the John and Terry Moriarty Memorial Novice Hurdle.
On this occasion, Andrew Leigh was content to take a lead from Black Beauty, before easing to the front over the second last.
“That showed Galway was no fluke, he seems to be improving”, reported trainer, Jessica Harrington. “He will go for a Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) at Tipperary next.”
Harrington completed a double when the imposing Taravada made it two from two in the Bumper.
He powered clear in the closing stages in the style of a very promising horse to score by a massive five and a half lengths.
Commented Harrington: “If the ground is soft he will go to Cheltenham in November for the bumper Cork All Star won last year.”
Moore’s Law, now a nine-year-old, took the M J Carroll Arro Handicap in good style for Rory Cleary and Michael Grassick.
He forged ahead over a furlong down and had little trouble holding Classic Croco by a length.
Commented Grassick: “He’s finished now for a a little while and will come back over fences.”
Tony Martin’s Green Mile was always a tight price in the ring, he was returned at 6-5, but was struggling badly fully six furlongs from home.
Marikhar, a chance ride for Kieren Fallon, landed the T P Walsh Memorial Handicap, beating heavily-backed favourite, Forthright.
The market-leader got to the front early in the straight, but Fallon produced Marikhar with a steady challenge to grab the lead through the final hundred yards.
Trainer, Seamus Fahey, said: “The splits came at the right time and he won well. He could go to Wolverhampton for the all-weather or return to hurdling.”
Ruby Walsh took his tally for the week to four when Man On The Nile defied top weight in the Spectra Photo Labs Handicap Hurdle. He came from off the pace to master the flattering Ilringuback from the the final flight.
“That was a brillaint ride from Ruby’, said trainer, Willie Mullins. “He ran badly at Tralee, but the ground was terrible there and he likes nice ground. We will probably go chasing with him now.”
They were a motley bunch in the opening Helena Sheahan Memorial Maiden, with victory going to Eddie Lynam’s well exposed Air Twist.
Rated a lowly 69, she shot away for Shane Gorey approaching the home turn and the staying-on Ballydoyle newcomer, Don Pedro Mendoza, never threatened to get in a real blow.
