Bahrain storms home to land gamble
Supported from 4/1 to 5/2 joint-favouritism, the versatile six-year-old tracked the leaders until Davy Russell asked him to squeeze through on this inside of Next Week at the third last flight.
In front before the next, Bahrain Storm was soon in command and stretched clear to triumph by four and a half lengths. The winner will have a choice of targets at Galway.
The bumper produced a tremendous tussle between the two best protagonists in the sphere. Nina Carberry prevailed on the J P McManus-owned newcomer Buck Barrow, from the in-form yard of Charlie Swan, getting the better of the Patrick Mullins-ridden favourite Flat Out.
Conor O’Dwyer and Niki O’Shea continued their rich vein of form when Rockadare swooped late to deny Buck Mulligan and Ruby Walsh in the three-mile Corkman Maiden Hurdle.
Ten-year-old course specialist Heartansoul, ridden by Eoin McCarthy, recorded her third win on the Mallow track when stretching clear of gambled-on top-weight Hot Oscar (11/2 to 2/1) to land the Essink Restauarant & Catering Mares Handicap Hurdle.
Earlier, in the flat action, Kevin Manning gave Seachantach, his only ride of the evening, an enterprising front-running ride to land the seven-furlong Barry Group Handicap at the expense of market-rival Irish Heartbeat.
The David Wachman-trained Pirate Ship, off the track since being turned over at odds-on at Dundalk back in April, justified 4/9 favouritism in the one-mile Kostal Ireland Gmbh Maiden but, having travelled strongly, had to work hard for Wayne Lordan to hold the late flourish of Jazz Blue by a neck.
Drombeg Dawn, unlucky when second at Limerick on Sunday, gained compensation when making most of the running under Emmet McNamara to win the Dermot Cleary Plant Hire & Tree Care Handicap for trainer Andrew McNamara.
