Fernhurst Lad proves to be a muddy marvel
He is trained by Debbie Hartnett at Donoughmore, Co. Cork, who was enjoying a third success on the track.
Fernhurst Lad is owned by the ten-member SCR Syndicate, who are all clients of the Stirrup Bar in Whites Cross.
The winner, partnered by Mikey O’Connor, and Caddy Man took each other on in the straight and Fernhurst Lad was already getting the best of the fight when the runner-up guessed at the final flight.
Commented Hartnett: “That was like our Grand National. This is not his forte at all, he is a chaser out and out.
“He will probably go for a winners’ hurdle now and is so easy to train.”
A fair gamble went astray on the Edward O’Grady-trained Out Now. He was backed from 7-4 to 10-11, but was again disappointing, having also performed poorly at Navan previously.
See U Bob was a desperately unlucky loser of the Powerstown Chase. In front two out, he was quickly in total control.
He hasn’t been the most reliable jumper in the past, however, and made no attempt to arrive safely at the back of the last.
Mr Warbucks was left in front, but had nothing left on the run in and Organisedconfusion and Davy Russell readily swept past.
“You’d want to be years at it, I knew it was going to happen”, quipped a smiling Russell.
Paul Nolan, who trains See U Bob, had compensation when Warhead made a winning start over fences in the Kilsheelan Beginners Chase.
It was a decent enough effort, considering he hadn’t run since taking a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan in September of 2009.
Russell was completing a double aboard Warhead, who had his only two dangers removed when Thepartysover fell two out and Fennis Boy at the last.
The fourth and third last obstacles weren’t jumped in any of the three contests over fences and Nolan reported: “There weren’t enough fences for this fellow and there were too many for See U Bob!”
Charles Byrnes’ Domination was best for money in the Clonmel Maiden Hurdle and duly obliged.
Given a confident drive by Brian Byrnes, no relation, Domination eased into the lead between the last flights to easily beat Couleur De La Loi.
Trainer Byrnes indicated that the son of Epsom Derby winner Motivator would be given an entry in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham.
Quarryvale, trained by Jimmy Mangan and ridden by his son, Patrick, made most of the running to win the Lisronagh Novice Handicap Chase.
It was possibly a fortuitous victory, though, because the mare had just been headed by Hidden Crack, a half-brother to Cue Card, when that one toppled at the last.
Trainer Mangan said: “You have to have a bit of luck, you can’t beat it. She loves heavy ground and is a three-miler.”
Molko Jack, trained by Sean Aherne and ridden by Gerry Mangan, cantered all over his rivals to take the Suir Handicap Hurdle by 11 lengths.
“He won better than we thought and will keep tipping away in handicaps”, said Aherne.
