Stewards intervene to give Grantsville outright victory
The stewards had to intervene, however, to give him outright victory, after he had partnered Grantsville to dead-heat with Ruby Walsh and Cler.
Walsh powered Cler ahead going to the final flight, but, in attempting to avoid a loose horse, allowed his charge drift to the left.
In doing so, Cler clearly took Grantsville’s ground and Townend had to switch the Tom McCourt-trained six-year-old.
Grantsville then finished like the proverbial train and the principals flashed across the line locked together.
An inquiry was inevitable and it was no surprise when the stewards found in favour of Grantsville and awarded her the race.
It was a third success over flights for 17-year-old Townend, to go with 18 on the flat.
Cler’s trainer, Willie Mullins, later indicated that he will go home and study the race, with a view to appealing.
Stage Manager clipped heels and unseated Robbie Colgan with over a circuit to cover. Colgan suffered bruising and was stood down for 48 hours.
Townend completed a double, taking his score to 19 on the level, when Mullins’ Mountain Snow easily won the Malton Hotel Winners’ Enclosure Handicap. The youngster, of course, ironically works for the Carlow handler.
Mountain Snow went to the front over two furlongs down, scampering clear to beat Keel Castle Maine.
Said Mullins: “He will go to Galway, he’s in a couple of races and likes the track.”
The God Of Love beat his only serious rival, Pillar Of Hercules, snugly in the Colm Foley Memorial Novice Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh tried to make all on Pillar Of Hercules, but Davy Russell seemed to have him covered on the winner all the way up the straight.
A fine leap from The God Of Love at the last, however, sealed the issue and Russell only had to push him out hands and heels in the closing stages to score by a snug half a length.
“I thought Ruby would go quicker in front, I’d love to see my horse in a fast-run race”, said trainer, Philip Rothwell.
“He’s in the Galway Hurdle, but will also be entered in a novice there.”
Andrew Lee, on the mark with Kleinova on the flat on Tuesday night, provided Davy Russell with a double when All Sorts Star took the Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa Handicap Hurdle.
Nicely supported in the ring, All Sorts Star got the best of a titanic tussle with Born High, scoring by a short head.
“He might go to Galway and I wouldn’t mind running him back on the flat”, reported Lee.
Evening Rushour proved far too good for her rivals in the Dawn Omega Milk Maiden, giving Seamus Heffernan his first of the week.
The daughter of Mull Of Kintyre made a lot of the running, easily holding January through the last two furlongs.
“I was a little bit worried about her handling the bends, but Seamie said she was a steering job”, reported trainer, Andrew Kinsella.
Brazilian pilot Diego Dias produced the Joseph Quinn-trained Matjar with impeccable timing to
shoot clear inside the furlong pole to easily win the Dawn Flavoured Milk Handicap.
“The ground today was the key”, said Quinn. “He seemed to win handy enough and there might be another one in him.
“I doubt he’ll go to Galway. His rating isn’t high enough and I couldn’t see him getting into a race.”
For Dias it a was a first winner in Ireland since scoring on Set Barabbas Free at Tralee in August of 2004.
The Bumper looked a moderate heat, with Joe Crowley’s newcomer, Seldom Fed, getting the better of fellow first-timer, Branden Lady, by a hard fought head.
