Celtic Dane delivers in style this time
Superbly handled by the talented Chris Hayes, the four-year-old challenged strongly on the up hill approach to the home turn.
In front before the bend, the son of Danetime soon asserted and showed no signs of flinching in the closing stages to beat She’s Our Mark by a cosy length and three parts.
“That was brilliant”, exclaimed Hayes. “We had a great run and I kept following the right horses. When he saw the hill, he took off.”
Trainer, Kevin Prendergast, wasn’t at the meeting, but, speaking from home, said: “He was very unlucky in this race last year.
“When we saw the rain it gave us hope. He has probably reached his peak now and anything after this will be a bonus.”
Dermot Weld celebrated his 60th birthday in style when the impressive Rare Ransom annihilated the opposition in the Fillies Maiden.
An odds-on shot in all the offices through the day, the layers on track set out to get her big-time.
She went as high as 5-4 in places, and all the 11-10 you wanted, but there were numerous punters who saw the value in that and she was hammered down to 4-5.
The daughter of Oasis Dream proceeded to run her rivals ragged. On the pace from the start for Pat Smullen, she surged away turning in to beat Mark Of An Angel unextended by seven lengths.
“She did it well, I had no worries about the ground”, revealed Weld. “She knew her job and had a good draw, Pat was very impressed. I will now speak to Lady O’Reilly (owner), but obviously it will be a Stakes race next. We would hope to go right to the top with her.”
Weld completed a double, taking his total to six for the week, when the friendless in the market Award Ceremony forged away a furlong down to take the Tote EBF Maiden by nine lengths.
At this stage he was represented by his son Kris, who said: “It wasn’t the best of races, he will probably go for a handicap now.”
It was Smullen’s fourth winner of the two days and he is now the clear leader in the championship on 53, two clear of Johnny Murtagh.
Meanwhile, Weld’s Majestic Concorde, impressive in the GPT Handicap on Monday night and favourite for tomorrow’s Galway Hurdle, is far from certain to make the line up.
Said Weld: “He was very tired after the GPT and is 50-50 to run. I will make up my mind in the morning.”
Ruby Walsh and Tony Martin enjoyed their second victory of the meeting when Reisk Superman ran away with the McDonogh Properties Chase.
Partnered with typical patience by Walsh, the ten-year-old came from behind to sweep past the flattering Keys Pride and win going away by ten lengths.
“He was always capable of a display like that, has loads of ability and it is just a question of getting his head right”, said Martin. “He is a horse who is best fresh and I doubt will run again at the meeting.”
John Cullen, who was aboard Jawad, was suspended for seven days, having been found guilty of improper riding going to two out.
Michael O’Brien’s Winterdown Star won the Tote Placepot 1 to 6 Maiden Hurdle in smooth style in the hands of Tom Ryan.
He came there cantering down hill to the dip and was always in charge, once edging ahead coming away from the final flight.
Denis Cullen represented O’Brien and reported: “We were sweet on him. He’s had trouble with his wind in the past and the fitting of a tongue-tie seemed to help. We will have a look now and decide what our options are.”
Course specialist My Valley won her fourth race round the track when taking the Tote Jackpot Handicap.
The rain had got into the ground by now and the two miles took some getting. Pat Fahy’s mare was easily best equipped to overcome all obstacles.
She made most of the running, staying on dourly through the final two furlongs to beat Mountain Snow, the exact same way this particular contest ended last year.
“She’s a stronger mare this season and will probably come back here again later in the week”, said trainer, Pat Fahy. My Valley, of course, won twice at the meeting a year ago.
Paul Townend, who rode Mountain Snow, was suspended for four days for using his whip excessively and unnecessarily.
Maundy Money put up a fine display to defy top weight of 10-0 in the Tote Telebet 1850 238 669 Handicap.
The David Marnane trained gelding came here on the back of a good win at Killarney, but this was even better.
Partnered by in-form Colm O’Donoghue, the 9-1 chance shot right away in the straight to score by three and a half lengths.
The attendance was 22, 282, down from 26, 354 last year. The Tote dipped from €1,293,347 to €1,145,034. The layers held €2,128,027, which was a massive drop on last year’s figure of €3,052,652.
