Moon Dice lands tasty gamble on return
Taken at 12-1 in the morning, he was returned at 11-2 and the issue was never in doubt once Michael Darcy kicked him on off the home turn.
Said Flynn: “He was a bit weak last year, but has strengthened up well. This is the best horse I have, he was only half fit!”
Darcy was on the mark again aboard long odds-on Cooper’s Crest in the Irish Daily Mirror Hurdle and them completed a spectacular 61-1 treble, the third of his career, on Willies Girl in the second section of the Crecora Beginners Chase.
Cooper’s Crest was a creditable third behind Bahrain Storm and Cuan Na Grai at Tipperary on Sunday and this assignment represented a big drop in class.
She travelled sweetly through the contest, eased to a narrow advantage at the second last and only had to be pushed out to score readily.
Trainer, Sabrina Harty, commented: “Michael said she hated the ground. She’s a good tough filly and, if getting in, will run in the Galway Hurdle.”
Willies Girl outclassed the opposition in the beginners chase. Darcy was oozing confidence as she came swinging on the bridle going to the second last and the daughter of Anshan soon coasted away.
It was a third success for Wicklow handler Lorcan Donnelly, who was granted a full licence yesterday and also celebrated his birthday.
Asked how old he is, Donnelly quipped: “I’m over twenty one anyway.”
The Denis Cullen trained Qeasy, absent since March, took the Greenmount Conference Centre Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.
Qeasy looked set for an easy success when cruising ahead for Andrew Lynch going to two out, but idled in front and had to be bustled along in the closing stages to hold Galant Ferns. “She goes well fresh”, reported Cullen.
Charlie Swan’s Strongpoint, pulled up at Kilbeggan previously, was back on song in the Limerick’s Live 95FM Chase.
Given a dashing drive by Conor O’Farrell, the winner led for the second time heading to three from home.
Lucky At Last, given plenty to do, chased hard up the straight but was never quite able to bridge the gap and was still half a length down at the line.
The first division of the Crecora Beginners Chase was about as bad as it gets. Hardly surprisingly, it fell to a 25-1 shot in the shape of Oh Houdini, partnered by Shay Barry, riding at the peak of his powers right now.
Oh Houdini stayed on from the last to beat Shan Brogeen, after the challenging Golden Barrell fell at the obstacle.
The eight-year-old is the only horse trained at Tallow, Co Waterford by Pauline Gore-Cogan.
Her only winner prior to this came at Cork in 2003, a hunters chase with Heaven Is Above.
Charles Byrnes’ Alfa Beat, ridden by Robbie McNamara, hardly broke sweat to take the October 10th Munster National Handicap Hurdle.
A winner of his two previous races (over fences) the grey was pulling double over his rivals from a long way out to justify short-priced favouritism.
“He will run next Wednesday at Galway in a three mile hurdle, if getting in”, reported Byrnes.
The Bumper saw Jessica Harrington’s Fuschia Belle, ridden by Andrew Latta, prove too strong for Witness Express, after the pair had gone clear in the straight.
