Walsh swoops to conquer on Northern Alliance
Martin wasn’t present, however, to see Ruby Walsh produce the 11-2 market-leader with impeccable timing to cut down Northern Bay.
Eoin Griffin’s charge was in front soon after the start and they were tactics which looked destined to succeed for much of the straight.
But Walsh got a tremendous tune from Northern Alliance in the closing stages and he surged into the lead on the run in to score going away by two lengths.
Remarked Walsh: “He jumped well, did it great and should make a chaser some day.”
Walsh and Martin combined for a double with Green Mile in the Gleaneagle Hotel Handicap Chase.
Carrying the colours of the 18-member Road To No Town Syndicate, Green Mile was an uneasy favourite, but did his job in style under a typically patient drive.
The winner was nearer last than first for most of the journey, but arrived on the scene approaching the home turn.
Walsh waited until after two out before launching his challenge and only had to push out his partner on the level to beat Super Gale with a bit in hand.
Francis Flood’s P’tit Fute went off favourite for the Kelly Brothers’ Sliabh Luachra Handicap Hurdle and could hardly have been more impressive.
Eased ahead going to two out by Mark Walsh, he powered clear to beat Ah Ya Boy Ya unextended by five and a half lengths.
Commented Flood: “He got injured at Galway two years ago and it has taken time to get him back.
He will stay going as long as the ground is like this.”
There was an unfortunate sequel to the Bumper when the winner, Bodalboy, broke down after the winning post. Reported rider, Robbie McNamara: “He stumbled on the bend after the line.”
McNamara enjoyed an armchair ride prior to that, as Bodalboy travelled through the contest like a dream.
In front over three furlongs out, McNamara sat almost motionless on Charles Byrnes’ charge through the final two furlongs to beat hard-ridden Iveagh House a totally unflattering three parts of a length.
Shane Hassett added to his growing reputation with a dashing display aboard Kerryhead Windfarm in the Malton Hotel Chase.
Kerryhead Windfarm has never been the most natural of jumpers and was decidedly untidy at times here.
But Hassett had him in front from the start and bravely, and repeatedly, fired him at his fences. He duly had his reward, as Adrian Maguire’s blinkered ten-year-old gradually stretched away from the turn in.
Lar Byrne’s Thousand Stars, who had been taking on good company for much of the campaign, found his level in the Killarney Towers’ Hotel Maiden Hurdle.
Akinspirit tried to make all, with his rider allowing himself the luxury of several backward glances up the straight.
Meantime, Tom Doyle was hard at work on Thousand Stars, who answered the call to grab the leader after the final flight. A summer’s grass now awaits the grey son of Grey Risk.
The two best lady riders in the business, Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh, fought out the finish of the Sean Clifford Construction Handicap.
Carberry drove top weight Lucky Spring into the lead well over two furlongs down and Pat Martin’s gelding kept pulling it out to resist Walsh and The Colt King by three parts of a length.
Both Davy Russell and Richie Kiely, who took falls through the course of the afternoon, were stood down for the day.
