Double continues Marnane’s purple patch
Partnered with patience by Sam James, the daughter of Daylami swept through late to beat Norah Starr and Sceal Nua.
Commented Marnane: “Sam gave her a fantastic ride. We were a little worried about the fast ground, but she had come down to a winnable mark.”
Unlucky horse of the contest was the fourth, Spirit Of Cuba, who had nowhere to go through the final furlong.
The stewards went through the motions of holding an inquiry, but there was never any possibility of an alteration to the placings.
Marnane completed a double, taking his score to five in four days, when Grace And Beauty landed the John O’Connor Welding and Engineering Ltd Handicap.
This time Declan McDonogh did the steering, beating Give Me Shelter, ironically ridden by James.
Give Me Shelter slipped into a decent lead off the home turn, but was gradually closed down by the winner, who was nicely on top close home.
“I have a feeling she is better going left-handed”, reported Marnane. “She will have a little break now and we will see what the handicapper does.”
Darenjan, a horse who has had leg trouble in the past, has been nursed back to full fitness by Shark Hanlon and made a winning debut over fences in the O’Keeffe’s Marquee Hire Rathmore Beginners Chase.
Powerfully handled by Eddie O’Connell, he jumped into the lead three out and battled on to hold Traffic Article by half a length.
“He has won twice at Galway and goes back there for a two mile and six novice chase”, said Hanlon.
O’Connell was also on the mark when guiding Ken Condon’s Sebadee to a clear-cut nine lengths success in the Sheahans’ Bar Killorglin Handicap Hurdle.
It was a wide margin and might have been even more had the winner not made a bad mistake at the final flight.
“I didn’t think he saw out his race at Listowel last time, so had laser palate surgery and only missed two or three weeks”, said Condon.
“The plan was to go to Galway, but it will be interesting to see what the handicapper does after that.”
Some decent wagers went west on Aidan O’Brien’s Sam Lord’s Castle in the Killarney Oils Ltd Maiden.
Taken from 6-5 to 4-5, he looked the most likely winner when edging ahead for Seamie Heffernan early in the straight.
Takeyourcapoff, far from neglected in the market as well, was soon chasing and wore down the favourite through the final furlong to score by three parts of a length.
The consistent Hot Friend, trained by Robert Tyner, was far too good for the opposition in the ladbrokes.com Handicap Chase.
Dashingly handled Philip Enright, Hot Friend was in front early on the final circuit and made the rest to easily beat Clan Music. Another handicap at Galway is the plan for the eight-year-old.
The Bumper went to the Willie Mullins trained newcomer, Sin Palo, who finished with a flourish for Katie Walsh to master the flattering Flycorn.
Mullins and Walsh also combined to win the bumper here on Monday night with Laganbank.
