Double celebration for O’Brien
In the morning O’Brien’s wife, Audrey, presented him with twins - a boy and a girl - and then at Clonmel last night his Viaduct Bud landed the first division of the Clonmel Hospice Support Group Handicap Hurdle.
Beautifully handled by under-rated, but in-form, Tom Doyle, Viaduct Bud powered clear from the final flight to beat Inter Mutanda by three lengths.
O’Brien, obviously with far more important considerations to occupy his time, wasn’t at the meeting and was represented by his assistant, Niall Healy.
Said Healy: “Today was the day, the ground was too soft for him at Wexford last time. I’d say he will probably go for another handicap at Killarney now.”
End Of The Affair, a first ever runner at the track for Kilcock, Co Meath trainer, Vincent Ward, defied top weight in the featured SEPAM Tipperary Perpetual Handicap.
“I was sceptical about the course, she’s a big galloping mare and I thought it would be too tight”, remarked a clearly delighted Ward.
Sam James was again seen to advantage, producing the winner with a steady run in the straight.
Market-leader Oneeightofamile flattered early in the straight, but had no answer to End Of The Affair, once she swept ahead over a furlong down.
“She has been brilliant for me and that’s her fifth win”, reported Ward. “I have just room for six boxes in my barn and one of them is empty, so someone might send me a horse!”
Chris Hayes, who rode Hunting Tower in this contest, was found guilty of careless riding and suspended for two days.
A year ago Sam Curling was one of the principal work-riders at Ballydoyle and partnering St Nicholas Abbey on the gallops.
Yesterday, he had his first success as a trainer - he’s had a licence for about four months - when well-backed Ballachroy took the Clonmel Hospice Support Group Handicap.
Partnered by another Ballydoyle stalwart, Seamus Heffernan, the six-year-old came late and fast to grab front-running Kristal Komet by half a length.
“He had his first run for me at Limerick and came on plenty for that”, said Curling, who has 30 horses in his care, mostly point-to-pointers.
The John O’Shea-trained Leblon battled on dourly to land the Hospice Support Group Maiden.
The success of the 16-1 shot came as a mild surprise to O’Shea, who exclaimed: “She was only having a prep run for Punchestown.”
Powerfully handled by Shane Gorey, the daughter of Dansili answered every call to resist the persistent challenge of Greenbelt Star by a head.
Continued O’Shea: “She possibly wasn’t liking the heavy ground all winter. She could go to Punchestown now for a mares’ hurdle, a race she was second in last year, or else head for a winners’ of two at Sligo.”
The odds-on favourite The Real Article ran no sort of race and was in trouble a long way out, trailing home in sixth spot.
The defection of Raggletagglegypsy ensured that Domination was sure to be at short odds in the Clonmel Hospice Support Group Maiden Hurdle.
Returned at 1-4, he had to be bustled along by Davy Russell to lead between the last two flights, although well on top close home.
Trainer, Charles Byrnes, said: “We will keep tipping away with him for the summer, mixing flat and jumping.”
Russell completed a double when producing Seamies Dream with impeccable timing to take the second section of the Clonmel Hospice Support Group Handicap Hurdle.
Allys Bubble made a brave attempt from the front, but Seamies Dream was always going to get the best of the fight through the last hundred yards.
Clouded Thoughts, available as high as 4-1 in the morning and returned the 13-8 favourite in the Bumper, went for glory off the home turn for Kate Harrington and the late rush of Faha was never a worry.
