Dream Champion has no problem defying mandatory penalty
Pires was given a typically cool Walsh ride to land the Anglo Printers Hurdle at the expense of Hamalka, drawing clear on the run-in to triumph by three and a half lengths.
Martin said: “He’s a good little horse, but has never enjoyed the rub of the green. He hadn’t run over hurdles for a year but, with luck, this is a step in the right direction. He must have good ground and we’ll probably mix it with him over the next few months, once the ground is right. He might go to Listowel.”
Dream Champion, a convincing winner over two and a half miles in Ballinrobe on Sunday, had no problem defying a mandatory penalty in the three-mile Tote Trifecta Rollover Handicap Hurdle.
The 15/8 favourite cruised into the lead before the third last flight before drawing clear to slam Ahorsecalledmolly by ten lengths, prompting Martin to comment: “He’s a tough little horse and Ruby has the key to him. He doesn’t have a set plan, but rides him as he finds him on the day. It’s great that he’s won two in the space of a few days. He’s entered for Galway on Sunday, but won’t go there now.”
Sharing the training honours with Martin and Walsh were Dessie Hughes and Roger Loughran, successful with Grangeclare Gold and Talab.
Owned by her trainer, Grangeclare Gold produced a battling display to win the Murphy Environmental Mullaghcurry Cup Handicap Hurdle from top-weight Now This Is It.
Hughes stated: “She loves quick ground and I’ve always felt that there would be a day in her, in a two and half mile handicap. She won and has been running well on the flat and, rated 77, she’ll probably run again on the flat after this.”
Later, after Talab, in the colours of Fred Kenny, won the second division of the three-mile King Crisps Maiden Hurdle, outstaying Ben Of Fore.
A delighted Hughes commented: “This horse is only five but he’s huge and has a lot of developing to do. I’ll look for a ‘winners of one’ for him over the next few weeks but, essentially, he’s a horse for the future.”
The first division of this event produced the biggest shock of the evening, a win for the Eddie Cawley trained 25/1 shot Drop Anchor, which is likely to campaign on the other side of the Irish Sea in the coming weeks, with Cawley likely to target the September meeting in Perth.
