Kite flies high in National
Trained by Adrian Maguire and partnered by Brian O’Connell, 11/2 joint-favourite Golden Kite and Decoy Daddy were challenging the other joint-favourite, Charles Byrnes’ Classic Frontier, when Andrew McNamara’s mount crashed on landing at the final obstacle.
Soon in front, Golden Kite edged right, slightly hampering the runner-up before going on to score by a length and a half, prompting a delighted Maguire to declare: “He’s been a great servant and is a real gentleman of a horse, just like his owner. Brian gave him a great ride.
“He’s very straight-forward and easy to train. And, make no mistake, today was the day. It’s been a fairly quiet summer for us so it’s great to get a big pot like this. He’s entered in the Galway Plate and we’ll see how he comes out of this before making a decision. But this was the plan.”
The formidable, in-form combination of Gordon Elliott and Paul Carberry struck again when Millrock Lady, backed from 5/2 to 6/4, captured the Tom McCormack Memorial Cup Maiden Hurdle at the expense of Tango Knight. Carberry made his move going to the penultimate flight where the five-year-old mare landed in front as the eventual runner-up made a costly mistake. A good battle developed, with the favourite earning the spoils by three-quarters of a length.
“She deserved that,” stated Elliott. “I’m delighted for the lads who own her – they’re from Trim. Paul was good on her, as usual. She stays well and I’ll probably have to travel across the water to find something suitable for her now.”
Another Carberry winner came in the bumper when odds-on favourite Lean Times, ridden by Nina, sent punters home happy. But having run freely close to the pace, the five-year-old was all out to hold the challenge of Glenstar and The Bishop’s Day.
The Noel Meade-trained winner, a strapping Marignan gelding, was recording an overdue bumper success and is set to go hurdling.
The maroon and white colours of Kilbeggan Chairman Paul Daly were carried to victory by the Pat Martin trained Irish Poli in the Ballymore Handicap Hurdle, Andrew Thornton’s mount proving too strong for Canitellyou.
Martin admitted: ‘It’s great to have a winner here for Paul. It’s a double-edged sword really, because he loves having a winner here and doesn’t want one running badly.
“This horse is tough, versatile and consistent and was unlucky in Bellewstown the last day. He’s entered in Ballinrobe on Tuesday and, if he’s okay, he’ll probably go there.”
Returning after a lengthy break, Jowango foiled favourite Gentle Noel in the opening Athlone Maiden Hurdle, thanks to a timely manoeuvre by Andrew Leigh at the second last, which saw Jessica Harrington’s charge get a smooth run through on the inside to take the lead before keeping the favourite at bay by a head.
The winning trainer said: “He was promising early last season, but lost his way. He came here a fresh horse and did well to win, because I thought he might need the run and would get tired. I’m thrilled.”
Paul Flynn saddled first and second in the Hilamar Hotel Kinnegad Handicap Hurdle, in which the Keith Donoghue ridden Bremen got the better of Mayday Frontier after a protracted battle.
The successful handler explained: “I rode for the owners when I was with Philip Hobbs. So it’s great to train a winner for them. Bremen might go for a handicap hurdle on the Friday of Galway and will probably go chasing fairly soon. I suppose if I had waited for Limerick with the other horse (Mayday Frontier), I would have ended up with two winners instead of one.”
Flynn was expected to complete a double with Bronte Bay in the beginners chase, after fellow joint-favourite The Tartan Army – reluctant to go to the start – was withdrawn. But Mick Darcy’s mount had to settle for the runner-up berth behind all-the-way winner Ah Ya Boy Ya, enterprisingly ridden by Alan Crowe for Christy Roche, who explained: “He’s had a problem bursting blood vessels so it’s great to win with him. We didn’t think he’d get into the National and Alan suggested going for the novice.”
