Galway Plate a possibility as Bahrain storms home
The 7-4 favourite jumped beautifully for David Casey and travelled smoothly throughout.
The equally sweet-jumping Derinlaur made a brave attempt from the front, but the winner was right on terms over the second last.
There wasn’t much between them at the final fence, but then the class of Bahrain Storm kicked in and he eased away on the flat for a comfortable victory.
Trainer, Pat Flynn, said: “He will go novice chasing, but I am half keeping the Galway Plate in mind.
“He is back in terrific form now, loves good ground and is gaining experience all of the time.”
The John Joe Walsh trained Sligo Publican, winner of a point-to-point at Inch, landed a touch in the p2p.ie Mares Point-Point Bumper.
She was taken at 16-1 in the morning and from 11-1 to 8-1 at the track and stayed on dourly for Ambrose McCurtin to wear down Sonata D’Amour.
“She will be off out on grass now and probably come back over fences”, said a well pleased Walsh.
Matt O’Connor lost his right to claim 5lbs when partnering Merchant Royal, trained by Dermot Weld for his son, Kris, to easily land the Kedrah House Stud Well Chosen Novice Hunters Chase.
Christondaly set a scorching gallop, but O’Connor was unperturbed and produced Merchant Royal to ease past at the final fence and score by six lengths.
Kris was on hand to greet his charge and remarked: “We think that’s Dad’s first ever winner of a hunters chase.
“I am delighted for Matt, who rode because Robbie (McNamara) is suspended. The horse is off on his holidays now and will come back in points and hunter chases, he is a nice novelty to have around the place.”
Bookmakers began with a screamer in the Point-To-Point Evening At Tipperary Maiden Hurdle, victory going to Blackwell Synergy, a 33-1 shot and over 136-1 on the Tote.
A newcomer by Antarctique, he gave trainer, John Supple, a third success on the track. Supple, a brother of jockey, Willie, has ten horses in his care and is based at Duagh, Co Kerry.
Loch Long tried to make all, but in-form Tom Doyle powered the winner into the lead at the last to score going away by three and a half lengths.
Reported Supple: “We have always liked the horse, but this was a bit unexpected. He likes that ground and will make a chaser.”
The much improved Danny Mullins guided Shark Hanlon’s One For Joules to a clear-cut win in the first division of the Glenview and Rathbarry Studs Handicap Hurdle.
He pushed One For Joules to the front over two out and top weight and well-backed favourite, Worldly Wise, never threatened to close her down.
The ground made the difference”, said Hanlon. “She will probably go back to the flat, she isn’t very big and wouldn’t carry much of a penalty.”
The second section of the same contest went to 16-1 shot Vinnies Friend, ridden by Shane Jackson.
Lady Chatterbox kicked early in the straight, but the winner ranged up to challenge at the last and was soon in control.
The Robert Tyner trained Hot Friend battled on stoutly for Philip Enright to take the Portrait Gallery/Kilfeacle Stud Handicap Chase.
Enright made his move coming away from three out (the final fence was omitted) and Hot Friend did the rest to easily beat Kilbane River.
The eight-year-old carried the colours of the nine-member Blackrock Inn Syndicate, who are all from Cork.
A fair old gamble went astray on Tony Martin’s Tommy Turkle. Backed from 7-2 to 7-4, he didn’t jump well, never promised to deliver and trailed in a remote ninth. He was subsequently found to have burst.
The concluding p2p.ie Point-To-Point Bumper, for colts and geldings, saw Nina Carberry drive market-leader, Golden Call home a head in front of Clondaw Warrior.
The pair came close together in the straight and a stewards’ inquiry was called. There was never, however, the remotest possibility of a change in the placings.
