English raider Caravel justifies hefty support
Prescott is adept at finding suitable opportunities for all his charges and Caravel, winner of handicaps at Brighton, Haydock, Goodwood and Redcar, duly completed a five-timer under a typically strong ride by McDonogh.
Strongly supported from 9/10 to 4/7, Caravel was driven along to tackle his market rival Princely Hero from three furlongs out, edging ahead on the home turn but needing all of McDonogh’s strength to get home by a head from Pat Smullen’s mount.
The two combatants made contact early in the final furlong and, more significantly, in the dying strides. But, predictably, the subsequent Stewards Enquiry did not alter the result.
McDonogh was recording his 63rd success of the season and lies eighteen behind Smullen in the race for the jockeys championship.
National Hunt champion Ruby Walsh and early-season pace-setter Davy Russell are tied on the 54-winner mark after yesterday’s proceedings, when both men were on the mark.
Russell enjoyed very mixed fortune in incidents at the final flight, being gifted victory on the Paul Nolan-trained Arklow Ger in the Tommy & Martha Joyce Memorial Handicap Hurdle before being denied a double when Siegemaster crashed at the same obstacle with the Come Racing In Ballinrobe 2008 Maiden Hurdle apparently at his mercy.
Arkow Ger, which fell when in front in a maiden hurdle at Wexford last time, looked held in second place when the leader Mingus Madness blundered badly and unseated Emmet Butterly in the handicap hurdle, leaving Russell’s mount to beat Pleasereleaseme.
In contrast, Russell, on the Dessie Hughes-trained Siegemaster appeared to have the measure of favourite Ri Na Deise in the later maiden when he stepped at the final flight and paid the penalty.
Siegemaster’s exit left Ri Na Deise, trained for RTE racing presenter Brian Gleeson by John Kiely, to gain a bloodless victory in the hands of Ruby Walsh, leaving the champion and Russell tied on 54 winners apiece.
Christy Roche and 3lb. claimer Mark Walsh shared a double when What’s New and Charyan triumphed.
An eye-catcher at Sligo last time, What’s New landed a tidy ‘touch’ (10/1 to 7/1) in the Thanks To Ballinrobe Race Sponsors 2007 Maiden Hurdle, edging ahead with four to jump and then staying on too strongly close home for Macaillou, whose chance was not helped by a mistake at the second last.
What’s New, a half-brother to Montana Glen, carries the colours of champion owner J P McManus whose Valain was the medium of a substantial gamble (5/1 to 11/4) in the finale, the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
But Valain was out of luck behind the Christy Roche-trained drifter Charyan, which outpointed Alpha Jet to record her second success over hurdles, two years after her maiden win at Listowel.
Pat Flynn and Danny Grant, out of luck with favourite Shesthebiscuit in the second division of the Tote Placepot Handicap (won by 16/1 shot Thornfield Clo, ridden by 10lb. claimer Jimmy Sullivan) were on the mark later when Otavi landed the Coranna Restaurant Handicap after slipping the field early in the last half-mile.
