Winter warmer for Walsh as Belord does the business
Start Me Up, not for the first time, was disappointing. In front three out, he found little when headed in the straight by Worldly Wise.
Kevin Coleman, however, had now worked Belord into the contest and there was only going to be one result once he asked him to lead away from the final flight.
Commented Walsh: “He will head for a winners’ of one and wants to go up in trip, he was staying at it today.”
Walsh completed a double when Mantell easily won the Britain V Ireland Ladies Challenge Handicap Hurdle.
Partnered with patience by English lass Alex Dunn, Mantell edged into the lead two from home to beat Brave Heart by four and a half lengths.
“That was a brilliant ride, she did exactly as she was told,” said Walsh.
It was a fifth success on the track for Dunn, who comes from Worcester, and this was her first ride in Ireland.
Paul Nolan’s Carloswayback went off a strong favourite for the Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle and could hardly have been more impressive.
Michel Doran allowed him lead over two out and the Bob Back gelding eased away to win with his head in his chest.
“We think an awful lot of this fellow,” reported Nolan’s brother, James. “We are thinking of letting him take his chance in the Royal Bond (Fairyhouse) or the Navan Novice Hurdle.”
Michael Hourigan’s Mr Cracker left a poor effort at Cork behind when landing the Glenview Stud Novice Chase.
He had a large slice of luck on his side, however, being left clear two out when the challenging Taking Stock fell. Taking Stock took a heavy fall, right over on his neck, but fortunately escaped relatively unscathed.
Hourigan missed the contest, absent at the sales at Fairyhouse, but rider, Davy Russell remarked: “I know it’s Sunday, but he is a grand middle-of-the-week horse!”
Patrick Mangan produced Eric McNamara’s Flemensford with impeccable timing between the last two flights to take the Newton Abbot Races Handicap Hurdle.
“It’s nice to train a winner in those colours (JP McManus),” said McNamara. “We will try and win another hurdle race with him, but he will go back chasing sooner rather than later.”
The Eoin Doyle-trained For A Finish, successful at Thurles last month, followed up in smooth style in the Garryowen Handicap Chase.
Confidently handled by John Cullen, he bounded into the lead jumping the second last to beat the gambled-on Bideford Legend with plenty to spare.
The Paddy Power at Leopardstown at Christmas, if he got in, would be a possibility, according to trainer-Doyle.
The Bumper was won in tremendous style by the Noel Henley-trained newcomer, Kalanelli, who shot away over a furlong down in the hands of Paul Power.
She is owned by Philip Richards, a Welshman living in the Isle Of Man, and this is the first horse he has had in training in Ireland.
Reported Henley: “She is likely to go for a Listed mares’ bumper at Navan in a couple of weeks.
