Jumps first for Fahey as Russell sees red
The start of the contest was, however, far from satisfactory. Both Crude (Davy Russell) and Stop At Nothing (Robert Power) failed to take part, after the starter, Philip Lafarge, had let the field go with the pair adrift at the back.
Said an irate Russell: “We are senior jockeys and are we supposed to charge in or walk in? There is no consistency.
“We’re supposed to walk in and, in this case, the horses charged the tape. They should not have been allowed to start and should have been told to take a turn and come back in again.
“There was no problem starting races here on Sunday. Some starters are very good at what they do and others shouldn't be starting races at all!”
The stewards, though, concluded Russell had no case at all and, surprise, surprise, found totally in favour of the starter.
The decision was that a fair start had been effected and Russell and Power were suspended for four days.
The more than useful Shop Dj has two successes in bumpers to her credit, but was then trained by Fahey’s brother, Jarlath.
Sicilian Secret looked sure to score for most of the straight, appearing to be travelling far better than Shop Dj.
But, not for the first time, didn’t find anything like he threatened to do and Shop Dj was far more resolute from the final flight to score going away by three lengths.
Fahey, who has held a licence for “four or five months”, has had just one other winner, Intyre Trail on the all-weather at Dundalk
Commented Fahey: “She disappointed us at Down Royal, but we found she was suffering from allergies. The longer trip helped today and she may now go for a mares’ novice hurdle at Leopardstown. If not, she will wait for the Slaney Hurdle at Naas in the first week of January.”
The Charles Byrnes-trained Knockfierna, partnered by Davy Russell, outclassed her rivals in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle.
Successful in a maiden over a longer trip at Limerick previously, the daughter of Flemensfirth had no trouble stepping up in class and down in distance. Russell set her alight over the third last and she stretched on to easily beat the 12lbs receiving Golden Sunbird by three and a half lengths.
Said Russell: “I’m happy, she is improving away and, you’d imagine, the two miles should have been too short for her.”
Russell completed a double when Tony Martin’s Le Marquis cruised to victory in the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap Hurdle.
A big drifter in the ring, she eased into the lead between the last two flights to beat Masked Phantom by an unflattering four lengths.
Willie Mullins’ Dare To Doubt proved a costly failure in the www.corkracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle. Heavily supported morning prices, she was always odds-on at the track. Foildubh set off in front, but the writing appeared to be on the wall when the favourite loomed large early in the straight.
But it was Foildubh who showed much the greater resolution and was nicely in charge from the final flight.
The winner is trained at Templemore, Co Tipperary by John Ryan and his daughter, Deirdre, did the honours. “We have no plans and will see how he comes out of the race,” she said.
What An Flyer, absent since finishing second at Wexford in May, shot ahead over two furlongs down to easily win the Bumper.
Trainer, Ann Lambert, said: “She ran well in a schooling bumper at Thurles about three weeks ago and will probably go for a maiden hurdle now.”
Owennacurra Milan, a 25-1 shot, benefited from a strong Sean McDermott drive to beat Well Insured in the Students’ Raceday March 31st Handicap Hurdle.
