Democrat bounces back to form in style
Davy Condon had the ride, with Ruby Walsh on Irish Invader, who attracted solid support in the ring to go off favourite.
Emotional Article and Irish Invader were the trail-blazers for most of the journey, but there was only going to be one winner once Condon let out an inch of rein between the last two fences.
Davenport Demmocrat, who had looked very one-paced of late, quickened in style and was going away at the end with Condon able to sit motionless.
“He seemed to have lost his form”, reported Mullins. “I told Davy to ride him any way he wanted, wherever he was comfortable.
“I didn’t enter the horse in the Galway Plate, because he has disappointed on that track before. I am delighted with Irish Invader and he will now go straight to the Plate.”
Mullins completed a double when Sir Vincent stepped up on his previous narrow success at Sligo to take the winners’ Bumper.
Ridden by his son, Patrick, Sir Vincent kicked on off the home turn and was always holding Azana. “We will probably go jumping with him now”, said Mullins.
Askeaton, Co Limerick trainer, Brian Moran, who has held a licence for two years, enjoyed his first success on the track when Fortune Seeker won the Bourn Vincent Memorial Park-Killarney Racegoers’ 25th Anniversary Maiden Hurdle.
She made all the running, under a strong John Cullen drive, and was always carrying far too many guns for uneasy favourite, Cloone Stream.
Commented Moran: “She had been knocking on the door for long enough. She stays and is tough and her future is over fences.”
Moran, who rode as an amateur, won a Maryland Hunt Cup in America aboard Young Dubliner and also partnered Dorans Pride to land his bumper at Ballinrobe.
Lenny Flynn, who took a fall off Suburu Blue, was removed to hospital in Tralee with suspected fractured ribs.
The layers got a screamer when John Joe Walsh’s once-raced Rory Anna beat well-backed favourite, Lista Lightning, in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Median Auction Maiden.
In-form Ben Curtis was again seen to advantage, driving out his charge from the furlong pole to hold the persistent challenge of the runner-up by a neck.
“She lost half a furlong at the start at Roscommon”, said Walsh. “No one seemed to notice it, except the Racing Post!”
Eddie Lynam must have felt a bit like Aidan O’Brien at the Curragh on Sunday watching the finish of the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Claiming Race.
His pair, Sinsational and Icemancometh, totally dominated the closing stages of the contest, nine lengths clear of the third.
Icemancometh tried to make all, but Sinsational and Shane Foley gradually closed him down, getting on top in the last fifty yards to win by a head.
Chaparro was best for money in the O’Keeffe Marquees Rathmore Handicap and obliged under a fine Rory Cleary drive.
The High Chaparral colt got to the front under two furlongs down, but had to be kept right up to his work to resist top weight Isent She Rich by a neck.
In contrast, the bookmakers were positively buzzing after Tom Hogan’s Saranjo had landed the Killarney Avenue/Munster Joinery Handicap.
The 20-1 shot came home with a real flourish for James Sullivan to cut down the gambled-on Paddy’s Day and score going away by three and a half lengths.
