Aussie rules after early finish drama
At Tramore yesterday, Davy Condon appeared to have completed a treble when powering Boher Storm to the front at what he, and many of his colleagues, thought was the final fence to win the Newtown Handicap Chase.
Unfortunately, however, there was still a full circuit to complete. A number of riders were down in the drive position as the field swept towards the home turn.
They all pulled up on passing the winning post and as Condon, and others, began to return to the parade ring, some of the horses remained out on the course.
You could visibly see the jockeys chatting among themselves, as it began to dawn that a huge error had been made.
Mr Aussie, trained by Francis Flood, started favourite. Flood’s son, Fran, ran out onto the track and convinced the horse’s rider, Andrew McNamara, to head back out into the country.
Said Flood: “I shouted at Andrew to get going. As soon as he heard me, he broke into a canter.”
It was smart thinking on the part of Flood, because Mr Aussie went on to beat Doc Charlie and Davy Russell.
Explained McNamara: “I knew coming down the hill we had a circuit to go, I hardly moved on my horse.
“But when you see something like 80% of those around you riding a finish you begin to doubt yourself. And then I heard the course commentator calling a finish.
“When we pulled up Davy Russell and I discussed it and we agreed there was another circuit to go. Barry Cash was with us and he agreed as well. When Fran started to shout at me, I moved on again.”
The stewards, obviously, held an inquiry and concluded that Mr Aussie should keep the race. Considering he never left the track that had to be the verdict.
In any case the stewards decided that McNamara, Shane Jackson, Kevin Coleman and Barry Cash were not liable for suspension.
Nine of the remaining pilots, including leading rider Davy Russell and Condon, were suspended for five days and ordered to forfeit their fee.
Orlando Kelly, who did not attend the inquiry, was referred to the CEO of the Turf Club.
Earlier in the day, Condon had enjoyed better luck. Willie Mullins’ O’Hana, taken from a little 11-4 to 7-4, started the ball rolling and was far too good for favourite Baltiman in the Metal Man Novice Hurdle.
Partnered with a lot of confidence by Condon, the mare joined issue with her front-running rival two out and soon forged away to score by four lengths.
Mullins was represented by wife, Jackie, who said: “That’s more like the form she showed when winning at Galway. We will keep asking her questions and see what she comes up with.”
Condon landed a double when giving Cara Mara an enterprising drive to win the Graun Hill Mares Maiden hurdle.
He made his move starting out on the last circuit and the daughter of Saddlers Hall found plenty for pressure to hold Parknakyle.
“She is what she is”, remarked trainer, John Berry, rather realistically. “The better the ground the better she will be and should be able to win a chase as well.”
Burren Ben reaped the reward of consistency when delivering for the first time in the Guillamene Maiden Hurdle, under Davy Russell.
Available in the morning as high as 11-10, Charles Byrnes’ charge was always an odds-on shot at the track.
He travelled and jumped beautifully through the contest and was produced to lead over two out.
He soon stretched away, although giving the impression there wasn’t a whole lot left at the end, as he beat The Bay Lad a snug length and a half.
Russell continues to set a scorching pace at the head of the jockeys’ championship and this was his 86th of the campaign.
Burren Ben has been running well over flights of late, having found it hard to get his act together as a chaser.
Commented Byrnes: “He will keep tipping away over hurdles now and we will keep him a novice over fences for next season.”
Andrew McNamara was also on the mark, continuing his excellent Christmas, when guiding Bold As Brass to a smooth success in the Pickardstown Handciap Hurdle.
Trained under permit by James Keegan, Bold As Brass cruised ahead before two out to score unextended by five and a half lengths.
Ken Whelan took a bad fall off Storming Rose on the bend past the stands and was removed to hospital for X-rays with a suspected fractured fibula.
The capable Jackie Kidd guided ex-pointer Mulberry Boy to victory over Fingers in the Bumper. It was a first success in Ireland for the Co Down 27-year-old, who has twelve to her credit in Britain.
Druids Cross stayed on stoutly to hold the late rush of Up There in the www.tramore-racecourse.com Beginners Chase.
