Workmanlike Anaverna gets off mark
Wearing the colours of the trainer’s mother Gita, the Galileo filly, runner-up to subsequent Group 3 winner Lolly For Dolly in Cork last time, justified 9/10 favouritism, responding to Pat Smullen’s driving to keep Snap Alam at bay by a neck.
Kris Weld, representing his trainer/father, commented: “She did it well and battled hard for Pat. She’s a nice filly and, hopefully, we might get some black type for her later in the season. But I’d imagine she’ll go for a handicap next.”
The earlier Ingard Point Maiden went to the David Wachman-trained debutante Miss Coco, another daughter of Galileo, which outpointed longshots Mr.Shinko and Mutiska, prompting winning rider Wayne Lordan to explain: “That was a surprise, because we thought she’d need the run. She was very green, on a tight track, but will improve plenty. She got the trip well and will stay further.”
In-form Pat Flynn saddled Inishtearaght, ridden by stable-jockey Danny Grant, to record an emphatic four lengths win in the Oysters Point Handicap. A delighted Flynn stated: “She’s a nice filly, a half-sister to Kargali and she’ll improve again when she steps up in trip.”
Book Of Numbers, hampered when a huge disappointment at the Curragh last time, bounced back to winning form when justifying favouritism for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning in the Black Point Handicap, powering clear in the straight to slam Big Bad Billy Bob by four lengths.
Kieran O’Neill was seen to good effect on South Wing, winner of the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap at the expense of the unlucky Daggers Bond.
South Wing is trained by Caroline Hutchinson for the Up The Yard Syndicate, based in Leixlip, County Kildare. The winning trainer was full of praise for the winning rider. “Kieran gave him a super, positive ride. This horse lost his way a bit, but we sweetened him up by schooling over drains and cross-country fences.”
In the bumper action, Majestic Mayhem, trained locally by Jimmy Devereux and ridden by 7lb. claimer Andrew Doyle, made all to land the Broomhall Point Flat Race.
Mikey O’Connor partnered the Robert Murphy-trained Flamingos Gold to a convincing win in the first dvision of the Clammers Point Mares Flat Race, the second division going to False Messenger, another winner for in-form Michael Hourigan and ridden by the trainer’s daughter Laura.
At Downpatrick, Noel Meade enjoyed a welcome change of luck when recording a double with Accord Aris and Byeforthepresent, his first winners since March.
Strongly ridden by Davy Condon, Accord Aris got the better of Mr.Dazza and disappointing favourite Tango Foxtrot in the opening Sean Graham Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle.
“He’s the first horse from Tu Va not to wear a noseband in thirty years,” explained Meade. “Davy had to be tough on him, because he stays well and needs further. He’ll probably run in a handicap next but he’ll go over fences sooner rather than later.”
And, after Nina Carberry galvanised Byeforthepresent to beat Lea Lady in the Heart Of Down (Amateur) Maiden Hurdle, Meade added: “He’s a big, weak horse. He needs a trip and decent ground and he needed a strong ride from Nina too.”
Sharing the training honours at the northern venue was Enda Bolger whose lightly-weighted George Travis, ridden by Tommy Ryan, landed a gamble (7/1 to 9/2) in the Frank Magee Memorial Handicap Chase, slamming stable-companion Dream Home by eleven lengths..
Outlaw Pete, also owned by J P McManus and, like George Travis, coming into the race on the back of a cross-country outing at Punchestown, completed the double in the Frank Fitzsimons Maiden Hunters Chase, asserting on the run-in under John Thomas McNamara to beat Bumble Beet by eight lengths.
McNamara’s bid to complete a double on the Mags Mullins-trained favourite Milano Supremo in the bumper was foiled by debutante Benefique, a morning gamble and well-supported second favourite, which continued the fine strike-rate of Gowran, County Kilkenny-based trainer Dan Fogarty.
Benefique was confidently handled by Pa Murphy to make a successful debut. Her trainer said: “She’s a very good mare and we decided to come here because it’s been a lucky track for me and her three sisters have all won here. She should be able to win a winners’ bumper and she jumps really well too.”
