Carberry takes full advantage on Chicago Grey
Carberry is suspended for 30 specific racedays and, thanks to a loophole in Turf Club’s rules, he was able to ride at yesterday’s rescheduled meeting on that basis. And he grasped his opportunity when producing Chicago Grey with a well-timed challenge to land the Clonoulty Hurdle by a half-length from Smoking Aces.
Chicago Grey is now ‘two from two’ for his present trainer Gordon Elliott for whom he scored at Perth last April. And the grey gelding continued the rich vein of form being enjoyed by Elliott, in Musselburgh yesterday where he won the bumper with Definite All Star. The trainer has also been successful with Grand Opera and Wikaala at Dundalk this week.
Riding honours went to Paul Townend who completed a double on well-backed Gentle Alice in the Thurles Mares Maiden Hurdle and strongly-supported odds-on favourite Rhyl Accord in the Holycross Maiden Hurdle.
Gentle Alice, backed from 8/1 to 9/2, coasted through to beat Kempinski in the opener, giving Midleton-based Donie Murphy his first training success, five weeks after the death of his father and former trainer Jimmy.
“I only have the licence four weeks. The mare ran a bit flat the last day, but has been working well at home. I only have a few horses in training, mainly point-to-pointers. But my main job is working for Paul Cashman.”
Townend gave 4/5 favourite Rhyl Accord a similarly confident ride to make a successful hurdling debut in the Holycross Maiden Hurdle, his first outing since finishing second to Sweeps Hill in a Leopardstown bumper last Christmas.
Rhyl Accord was a bit keen throughout, but jumped well and always looked the likely winner, Townend allowing him to lead between the last two flights for a smooth four and a half lengths win. On this evidence, the Accordion gelding will hold his own at a higher level.
Earlier, the Henry de Bromhead-trained Kilmurry turned over favourite Colleoni in the Cahir Maiden Hurdle to continue the good strike rate of trainer Henry de Bromhead and Andrew Lynch.
The King’s Theatre gelding kept pulling out extra to keep Robert Power's mount at bay, prompting trainer de Bromhead to comment: “I thought he’d struggle in that deep ground. But he was good and stayed at it well. He’s a good prospect and anything he does over hurdles is a bonus. Chasing is his forte. He’s done plenty of schooling at home and wings fences.”
The Jimmy Mangan-trained Whitstone Boy, a faller when fancied for a recent handicap at Clonmel, made amends for trainer Jimmy Mangan when causing a mild shock in the Rock Of Cashel Hurdle.
Sean Flanagan deputised for the trainer's son Patrick, injured when the horse fell at Clonmel, tracking the leaders throughout before getting involved in a tremendous battle from the second last flight and holding the persistent challenge of Powerstation by a head.
Trainer Mangan said: “Patrick splintered his ulna in three places at Clonmel and is gone for more x-rays on the injury today. He’s a decent horse when he’s right and, with a rating of 117, there might be a good staying chase in him. He could be a ‘Thyestes’ horse.”
In the handicap action, Athlone-born teenager Kielan Woods, highly successful on the pony-racing circuit, made a dream start to his career under rules when guiding Heroes Square to victory in the concluding Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
The 17-year-old produced the 33/1 chance with a strong challenge at the final flight to outpoint Monaco Springs by a length. Winning trainer Caroline Hutchinson said of the winning rider: “He’s a good lad and gave the horse a lovely ride. He came to me from RACE and he’s a lad with a future.”
And amateur Colin McNally savoured his third racecourse success when Steviemac, jointly owned by his father Patrick, justified favouritism in the Munster Handicap Hurdle, following-up a recent win at Punchestown, for which he was raised 8lb.
Sent to the front four flight from home, the Gerry Keane-trained six-year-old appeared to be labouring at the second last but kept going well enough to outstay Doransfirth in the closing stages.
