Ruby back infull swing with a double
And few people are happier to see the champion, who resumed winning ways in Killarney last week, back in full swing than trainer Tony Martin with whom he shared a double in Ballinrobe yesterday.
The Walsh/Martin double was achieved with Dream Champion and Keelaghan, neither a prolific winner and Martin summed up his feelings about the champion jockey saying: “Where has he been – It’s been hard to have a winner without him.”
Sent off 3/1 favourite, Dream Champion travelled well throughout and, when Walsh went for home around the second last bend victory was quickly assured, Martin’s charge responding to Walsh’s driving to beat unlucky top-weight Hunting Tower by a length and three-quarters.
“This horse has been a bit unlucky. But Ruby rides him as he finds him and got it just right today. He’s owned by the McCartan brothers and will continue mixing it over hurdles and fences,” explained Martin.
The double was completed when Keelaghan was given a vintage Walsh ride to win the Water Towers Chase, leading at the final fence before forging clear to beat fellow joint-favourite Fosters Cross by three and a half lengths.
Martin stated: “He’s been around a long time and has been unlucky. I pulled him out of Killarney on Thursday when the ground went too soft. Everything went right for him today. He’s a good-moving horse and needs summer ground.”
Gimli’s Rock defied top-weight to land the E.P.S. Pumps 4-Y-0 Handicap Hurdle, just twenty-four hours after trainer Jessica Harrington’s Group 2 success with Pathfork at the Curragh on Saturday.
Ridden by Tommy Treacy, Gimli’s Rock, successful at Punchestown Festival but campaigned on the flat in recent weeks, edged ahead after the second last flight and fought tenaciously on the run-in to hold the late challenge of Strain Of Fame (receiving 28lb.) by a head.
The winning trainer was not present. But Treacy enthused: “He’s a proper little horse, with a heart as big as a tree.”
In the absence of the two morning favourites, One Cool Tornado came good for Paul Gilligan and Andrew Lynch in the opening Tote Placepot Maiden Hurdle, staying on stoutly to beat Carrleoni by three lengths.
Gilligan stated: “He’s still a big baby and does very little in front. That’s why I told Andrew to gave him a few smacks to wake him up. I was hoping for a strong gallop, because he needs a stiffer track.
“Today should smarten him up a bit and, as long as he’s well, we’ll keep going with him. If there’s a suitable novice in Galway next week, he’ll go there. He needs at least two and a half miles and will make a smashing staying chaser one day.”
Andrew Lynch partnered the Henry de Bromhead Carleton Place in the finale, bidding to complete a clean-sweep for favourite backers. But Lynch’s mount looked beaten when falling at the second last in a race won by Mahraajan, trained by Robbie Burns and ridden by Barry Geraghty, which proved too strong for Alabama Banjo. “He was due one, and we got a few bob,” admitted a delighted Burns. “He got his ground and a good man on his back and that made the difference. There’s not a lot for him, but I’ll try to find something similar. I think he’s capable of winning another.”
