Four Chimneys completes quick double in style
The eight-year-old defied the welter burden of 12-2 which included a 6lb. penalty incurred when scoring over course and distance on Saturday.
Ridden by Andrew Leigh, Four Chimneys, formerly with Philip Rothwell, took the lead travelling strongly at the second last flight before drawing clear to beat Rothwell’s Got The Urge by seven lengths.
Winning trainer Austin commented: “When you have them right, it’s half the battle. He’s fit and well and his win on St. Stephen’s Day left him 100% for today. I suppose we’ll have to see what the handicapper does to him before making plans but he could go back chasing.”
Beaten by Montana Springs over hurdles on Saturday, The Flying Dustman enjoyed better luck when scoring for local trainer Michael Hourigan in the limerickraces.ie Handicap Chase.
Owned by the trainer’s sister Mary, the ten-year-old showed tremendous guts and stamina to beat Lion Valley, prompting Hourigan to explain: “Annette McMahon left him with me when she went to France. He’s a tough horse and the run on Saturday left him spot-on for this. That was Seanie’s first winner for us and his strength made a difference. He’s a fun horse and we’ll probably mix it with him.”
In the other chase action, given the green light by a morning inspection, the Robert Tyner-trained, Derek O’Connor-ridden triple point-to-point winner Tullintain proved a facile winner of the concluding Shannon Tourism Maiden Hunters Chase.
Confidently handled, the Oscar gelding readily mastered favourite Proform Native to score by eight lengths and will continue to campaign in the hunter-chasing sphere, as Tyner explained: “He’s a fine big horse and won three point-to-points. I thought he might need the run today so he should improve and will go for another ‘hunters’ somewhere.”
With Alain Cawley re-routed to Leopardstown to ride Joncol in the Lexus, trainer Paul Nolan booked Alan Crowe to ride his fancied runners in the opening three maiden hurdles.
The Nolan/Crowe combination salvaged just one win, with even-money favourite Ach Aye Surely, which gained an overdue victory in the second division of the Munster Maiden Hurdle.
The Val Royal mare stretched out well in the closing stages to beat Donnachas Chant by seven lengths, to the delight of James Nolan, brother and assistant to the winning trainer, who said: “She’s been unlucky a few times, but deserved to win one. She jumped better and found plenty when Alan got stuck into her. She did her job well and will go handicapping now.”
Nolan’s Revelling came off second best in the opening division of this event, soundly beaten by the Sean Flanagan-ridden favourite Take It Easee.
The winner is trained for Limerick owner David Fitzgerald by Prunella Dobbs, whose husband George explained: “Prunella is in Leopardstown to saddle Our Girl Salley (second in the bumper) so I’m on duty here. We were expecting a big run from her, because we knew she’s like that ground. She won on the flat at Nottingham and has been going well since her recent run at Gowran.”
Golden Sunbird, representing Nolan and Crowe, made a costly mistake at the final flight before failing by a head to cope with the Willie Mullins-trained Killultagh Queen in the Online Betting Mares Maiden Hurdle, the market-leaders drawing a distance clear of the third.
Killultagh Queen, successful on her debut at Fairyhouse before disappointing behind the useful For Bill at Navan, was making her hurdling debut and is trained by Willie Mullins for northern owner Mrs Rose Boyd. The daughter of King’s Theatre was ridden by Emmet Mullins, nephew of the successful trainer, for whom he won the Grade 3 novice hurdle on Enterprise Park here on Monday.
Liam Burke admitted: “He was a great price, because I rated him a banker for the Christmas,” after Grange Alainn (6/1), under a strong drive by Shay Barry, outstayed Final Question in the Winter Wonderland Handicap Hurdle.
“He’s tough and stays galloping and he’s improving all the time. He’s won a point-to-point and two hurdles now, which is a bonus. He’s only five and I’ve always considered him a staying chaser in the making. But we might try to find another handicap hurdle for him, preferably on a stiff track, before he goes chasing next season.”
Nina Carberry’s trip to Limerick proved worthwhile when she partnered 2/1 favourite Killary Bay to a hard-earned length and a half win over market-rival Dapper Dan in the Athbhliain Faois Mhaise Daoibh Flat Race.
Always close to the pace, the Charlie Swan-trained Accordion gelding, in the colours of Mrs Louise Shanahan, hit the front turning for home but looked in trouble as the runner-up closed to challenge. However he stayed on stoutly for Carberry’s determined handling to triumph at the fourth attempt, erasing memories of a poor run at Thurles last time.
Clearly a dour stayer, Killary Bay is likely to go hurdling and should make his mark over fences, and over a trip, in time.
