Drama as Castle follows-up
The Jimmy Mangan-trained gelding, sent off 11/8 favourite, ultimately triumphed readily from Corrieann in a race which produced its share of drama at the third last fence.
Davy Russell had eased Conna Castle past Adjudication on the approach to the third last where the eventual winner jumped violently to his right, crashing into Adjudication and virtually knocking him over. Conna Castle was left clear and coasted home a cosy winner from Corrieann.
Trainer Jimmy Mangan commented: “Davy has always said that the horse is better going right-handed and that he jumps to his right. He certainly did that at the third last.”
“He needs a fast pace over two miles and travelled very well today, so well that Davy went to the front sooner than planned. But he’s back to his best and we’ll keep going the novice route with. He’ll probably run next at Galway at the end of the month.”
Having taken a crashing fall from Adjudication, Ruby Walsh was out of luck when Millanymare filled fourth spot in the Ladbrokes.com Handicap Chase, won by Just, continuing the rich vein of form being enjoyed by Michael Hourigan and Mick Darcy.
But Walsh was back in the winner’s enclosure after Magnet For Money, trained by Tony Martin, landed the Boyle Novice Hurdle after a tremendous tussle with Quinmaster, a horse Walsh partnered in defeat at Listowel.
Paddy Flood allowed Quinmaster stride into the lead leaving the back-straight. But Walsh delayed his challenge until the final flight and, after a good battle, Magnet For Money prevailed by a head.
Dermot Weld has enjoyed a tremendous season with his two-year-olds and introduced another promising prospects when Provincial, owned by Khalid Abdullah, gained a narrow win over Sufad in the Lecarrow 2-Y-0 Maiden.
The 7/4 favourite showed distinct signs of inexperience through the race and had to come from well off the pace to collar Sufad inside the final furlong to score by a neck.
Pat Smullen, having ridden his 85th winner of the season, said: “He’s shown plenty at home but is still a big baby. This experience will stand to him. He should make a nice three-year-old.”
John Oxx and Michael Kinane are enjoying a successful late-season run and doubled up with a pair of newcomers Ridawana and Zaralabad, both carrying the familiar colours of the Aga Khan.
A daughter of Daylami, Ridawana appeared to have little chance in mid-division with two furlongs to race, but finished well under Kinane’s driving to get up close home and beat Maidin Moch by a head.
Later, Kinane brought his domestic tally for the season to 29 when giving Zaralabad, a son of Fantastic Light, a confident ride to foil favourite Chesapeake in the Ballyleague Maiden.
Zaralabad swept through in the final furlong to win, readily, by two lengths, and looks the type to make his mark at a higher level.
Trainer David Marnane boasts an impressive strike-rate this season and struck again when top-weight Maundy Money, well-ridden by Amy Parson, got the better of Nortburn in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
Favourite-backers suffered a late reverse when bumper favourite Nollaig, sent clear by Nina Carberry turning for home, was worn down and ultimately well-beaten by the John Mulhern-trained 14/1 shot Puyol, ridden by John Thomas McNamara.
