Brook continues on upward curve
Given a break since the Galway Festival, he stripped fit and well and, in the end, galloped his rivals into submission.
Paul Townend, cleverly, seemed to find the best of the ground, but when Ballyadam Brook made his first blunder three out he was entitled to begin to struggle, conceding weight all round.
But the six-year-old picked up in a flash and soon forged to the front. Takeyourcapoff was his nearest challenger rising to the second last.
She jumped the hurdle perfectly well, but stumbled at the back of it, shooting Robert Power out of the saddle.
After that it was easy for the winner, despite being none too clever as well over the last two, who powered away to beat Cass Bligh by six lengths.
“Paul said he hated the ground, but I couldn’t be happier”, reported O’Brien. “He has a great engine, but I suppose his jumping will catch him out when he steps up in grade.
“I will consider taking him to Tipperary for a Grade 3 (Dolores Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle) on October 3.
“If all goes well there then we would be thinking about a two miler at the Cheltenham November meeting.”
The unfortunate Power, however, suffered a suspected fracture of his left shoulder blade.
Deutschland didn’t meet his engagement in the Southampron Goodwill Chase, found to be stiff after his first fence fall in the Kerry National on Wednesday.
That left Henry de Bromhead’s Loosen My Load with a relatively easy task, but you couldn’t fault his display, as he travelled and jumped for fun.
Andrew Lynch left him stride along in front and Loosen My Load made his only semblance of an error when getting in a little tight to the second last.
Commented de Bromhead: “He was deadly and is some horse to jump. I’m delighted, he was brilliant.
“He has a great cruising speed and will now go for a two mile and two at Punchestown in the middle of October, a race we won last year with Sizing Europe.
“If everything goes alright then he would head to Cheltenham, over two miles, at the November meeting.”
Michael Winters has long known the time of day and was on the mark when his newcomer, Rebel Fitz, landed some decent wagers in the Bumper.
Taken as high as 7-1 in the morning, he was returned 100-30 and got a dream run up the inside in the straight to score going away.
Said Winters: “This is a super jumper and I don’t know if he’ll go for a winners’ bumper or not. It’s great to have a good horse, they train themselves.”
Willie Mullins’ odds-on shot Ballyhaunis strolled to victory in the John J Galvin Maiden Hurdle.
He only had to be nudged out by Ruby Walsh between the final two flights to ease clear of the somewhat wayward Gala Dancer.
Said Mullins: “I have always thought a lot of him as a novice hurdler and think he could go a long way.”
At Laytown recently Hello Man gave Shane Duffy his first winner and the same horse doubled the trainer’s tally when defying top weight in the John And Terry Moriarty Memorial Handicap.
Gary Carroll brought the seven-year-old with a sweeping run towards the outside and Hello Man quickened in style inside the furlong pole.
Duffy is in his first year and based on the Laois-Tipperary border near Roscrea. “That’s absolutey great”, he said. “My one worry was the ground, but he seemed to handle it very well.”
Paul Deegan enjoyed his first success of the week when Beauty Express landed the L.M Carey And Company Handicap.
Partnered by Carroll - initiating a double - and a maiden prior to this, the winner led with a furlong to run and was always holding the favourite, Dundrum Dancer.
“First time cheekpieces were a help”, reported Deegan.
Pat Smullen, who flies to Canada this morning to team up with Famous Name in the Woodbine International tomorrow, gave Alburj a terrific drive to win the Listowel Printing Works Maiden.
Devils Bit flattered for much of the straight, but overall it hasn’t been Wayne Lordan’s week and Alburj collared him close home.
Said Smullen: “You would want two riding fees for that horse. Good job I’m fit, he’s hard work.”
Separate Ways has been a fine money-spinner for David Marnane this season and he did it again in the Guinness Handicap.
Riobamba kicked hard early in the straight, but the 11-4 favourite nailed her close home for Colm O’Donoghue to win by a short head.
* The attendance yesterday was 27,131.
