Smullen in top form ahead of Galway Festival
Smullen, favourite to be top jockey again at Galway, was seen at his strongest on board the Michael Grassick-trained Trikirk in the opening Blackstairs Claiming Race as the Selkirk gelding had to work hard to see off longtime leader Roseska and Scrupulous.
“He was unlucky at Tramore the last day and is a hard horse to keep right,” explained the winning trainer. “But he appreciates an ease in the ground and we’ll mix it with him, back over hurdles and on the flat.”
Smullen followed-up on Reflected Image, trained by his boss Dermot Weld in the Clonard Maiden, the daughter of Refuse To Bend scraping home a short-head winner from determined favourite Sandymount Lady.
Having travelled well, Reflected Image challenged early in the straight and, when hitting the front, looked set for a clear-cut victory. But Smullen’s mount appeared to idle in front as Fran Berry rallied the favourite in a renewed effort which just failed to land the spoils.
Speaking from his Curragh base, Weld commented: “It was good to get a bracket for the filly. But the trip of almost a mile and three furlongs was as far as she’d like to go. She’ll probably drop back in trip in a handicap now.”
Billy Lee celebrated his 23rd birthday with a winner, giving the Mick Butler-trained Akinspirit an ultra confident ride in the Belmont Handicap. The five-year-old, completing a ‘mixed’ hat-trick, cruised into the lead at the furlong-pole before holding the late surge of the Danny Grant-ridden Baltimore Patriot by a short-head.
Relieved trainer Butler said: “He has won twice by a short head but I’m not sure where he’ll go next. I have no plan for him.”
Ruby Walsh continued on a roll when providing Philip Rothwell with the first leg of his double, on board favourite Eyeffess in the www.wexfordraces.ie Maiden Hurdle..
This was an overdue win for the eight-year-old, as Rothwell pointed out: “I suppose it’s not before time, but he deserved it. I’m delighted for his owner Richard Walshe, one of my best owners. He’s a good ground horse and he’ll go for either a handicap hurdle or go chasing.”
Rothwell then supplied local lad Declan Bates with his first racecourse win when Mount Welcome won the Coolcotts Handicap Hurdle, swooping late to deny Wednesday’s Naas winner Takestan.
“Declan is 21 and only joined me three weeks ago. I was looking for a lad who could claim off the bottom weight of 9-10. He’s a good lad and rides well.”
West Cork owner Sean O’Sullivan was also in double form, having his colours carried to victory by the ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained Gougane in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle and Kealigolane, trained by Colm Murphy and ridden by Nina Carberry, in the second division of the bumper.
Gougane, under a strong ride from Conor O’Farrell, got the better of Matchbook, prompting trainer Hanlon to declare: “Thank God our luck changed before Galway (where he has big hopes for Trucker’s Delight). I think we’ve had six seconds in the last few weeks.”
He added: “That’s the best ride I’ve seen Conor (O’Farrell) give any horse. He’s getting so much stronger. This horse will go for another similar handicap, probably at Tramore or Killarney.”
Colm Murphy saddled the favourite for both divisions of the Ballindinas Flat Race and, after odds-on shot Milanette flopped in the first division (won convincingly by the Eoin Doyle-trained, Andy Duff-ridden Ucan Bolt), the O’Sullivan-owned Kealigolane landed the finale in the style of a potentially decent sort, proving too strong for Gentle Paddy and Tripolovitch.
Murphy described the Beneficial gelding as “a horse with a big future” while Michael Butler, representing Eoin Doyle, who was attending a wedding, explained that Ucan Bolt arrived in Doyle’s yard only three weeks ago, having been previously trained by Tommy Cooper, and that he’ll be aimed at a winners’ bumper later in the summer..
Two jockeys were in trouble with the Stewards for using their whips with excessive frequency. Found guilty were apprentice Danny Mullins, rider of first-race runner-up Roseska and amateur Joe Burns, who rode For A Finish to finish second in the first division of the bumper.
