Slieveardagh heading in the right direction
The six-year-old had previously produced a career-best effort when fourth in the Galway Hurdle behind Overturn and is clearly a horse heading in the right direction.
Dreamy Gent set a spanking gallop, but it was always odds against him being able to maintain that for the entire journey.
Andrew McNamara soon had the leader covered and Slieveardagh eased past before the last to score by an easy three and a half lengths.
Trainer O’Grady wasn’t at the meeting, but McNamara said: “We were confident enough coming here, after his run at Galway. All he had to do was repeat it to win!”
McNamara is clear in the jockeys’ championship on 28 winners, nine in front of closest pursuer, Paul Carberry.
Dermot Weld’s Unaccompanied followed her maiden success at Galway with an impressive display of front-running in the seamusweldon.com John Deere Main Dealer Race.
Pat Smullen always looked comfortable and the daughter of Danehill Dancer lengthened away in style to beat Alsalwa by three lengths.
Said Smullen: “She loved the ease in the ground and might not have run if the rain hadn’t come. She is a big rangy filly and has to the size and scope to go on.”
Weld completed a double when Endless Intrigue found plenty for Robbie McNamara to beat Swiftmarc a neck in the Cross Refridgeration Ltd Race.
The pair had a real a battle through the last furlong and the fact the rider of the second lost her whip was hardly a help.
“The ground was a bit tacky for him, but he did it well”, said McNamara.
Kevin Prendergast’s Mawaakef proved a strong favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden and, under a powerful Declan McDonogh drive, landed the wagers.
The Azamour colt looked in trouble for most of the journey, but buckled down in fine style to grab the flattering Factum close home and score by a neck.
Commented McDonogh: “I thought he’d win a bit easier. He got a bit tired and was green on the bends.”
John Murphy enjoyed his third success of the week when Cul A Dun took the KWD Recycling Handicap in the capable hands of Sam James.
The colt finished eighth of 15 here three days earlier, but Murphy explained: “He was unlucky, Gary Carroll said they met interference twice in the race.”
If Paradise set a scorching pace, but was headed over a furlong down by Northern Rocker, who in turn had no more to offer when the winner arrived.
Murphy added: “Sam gave him a lovely ride, he waited and waited, they went a bit cracked in front.”
Entering the final furlong of the Ross Golf Club/Killarney Racegoers’ Club Handicap it seemed as if Murphy was going to strike again, as his Belle Choose edged ahead.
It wasn’t to be, though, with Seamus Hefferan conjuring a late surge from 14-1 shot Cannot Give to quickly go clear.
Shay Barry, on the easy-list after taking a bad fall aboard the ill-fated Hairy Molly on Wednesday evening, missed out when replaced by Michael Butler on Winners Toast in the Grand Hotel Killarney Handicap Hurdle.
The six-year-old Danehill Dancer gelding is in the care of Eoin Doyle, who can do little wrong at the moment.
Butler sent Winners Toast into the lead off the home turn and only had to push him out to easily beat Giant Sequoia.
Earlier in the week, Askeaton, Co Limerick trainer, Patrick Neville, had his first winner since May of last year when Curragh Grey took a handicap.
Well, Neville did it again when Macville streaked away with the M L Lynch Civil Engineering Ltd Maiden Hurdle.
Tom Doyle sent the mare to the front heading to the last and she bounded clear to score unextended by five lengths.
