Future looks bright for Angel
Ambush Angel, a quietly supported 16/1 chance, secured a dream run through on the inner for Thurles amateur Damien Skehan to lead over two furlongs out. The winning daughter of Dushyantor was in no mood to be denied thereafter and she stayed on bravely to thwart Silver Chief, runner-up in a Limerick maiden hurdle in March, by three parts of a length in the colours of Ballinhassig-based owner Gus O’Mahony.
Borrisoleigh-based Hurley, who attained his previous track success with Golden Gazelle in a Killarney bumper in July 1991, said: “We knew that she would go well today and we had a small few quid on. We were a little worried about the ground and Damien gave her a great ride. There’s a mares’ hurdle race for her now at Down Royal in two weeks time.”
Pat Flynn likes nothing more than to have a winner at Tramore and his Final Flashback became the only horse to win twice at the festival when landing the opening www.tote.com Maiden Hurdle. Final Flashback, who sluiced home by 14 lengths in a one and a half mile handicap here on Saturday evening, took up the running with talented 7lb claimer Tim Carroll before four out. The winning six-year-old threw the faster leap at the final flight and this partly enabled him to beat main market-rival Haventabobphil by a length.
“This is a lovely horse that wants good ground and he could develop into a Galway Hurdle horse when he gets more experience,” remarked Flynn of the Alexander Stafford owned Final Flashback.
There was a tragic conclusion to the O’Shea’s Hotel Chase as the runner-up Hampshire Express returned with a fractured stifle and Willie Mullins’ recent Galway Plate fourth sadly had to be put down. In the race itself, the Ken Condon-trained Sebadee led from two out and, having landed the faster over the final fence, Eddie O’Connell’s mount kept pulling out more on the flat to contain the gallant Hampshire Express by a head.
“This horse has plenty of experience, he ran in the Irish Grand National this year and he loves this fast ground,” said the absent Condon’s wife Pauline Ryan.
Sabrina Harty’s Nakajima Nate brought off a tasty gamble from 6/1 into 4/1 by making a victorious start to his chasing career in the Tramore Amusement Park Beginners Chase. The towering Nakajima Nate took up the running with the capable Mick Darcy at the second last, the victorious seven-year-old duly storming clear on the flat to dismiss Native Palm by three lengths.
Paying tribute to the winning jockey, Won In The Dark’s handler Ms Harty said: “Mick always said that this fellow would be a different horse when we put him over fences. He’s a big horse that liked the fast ground and he handled the track very well. I’m delighted for his owner Everina Kilfeather who’s away on holiday at present. ”
Clare MacMahon was also absent and she missed seeing her charge Jamsie Hall’s polished success in the Heinz Pollmeier Handicap Chase. Jamsie Hall took up the running for Davy Condon before three out and he was containing Onzo Mor when Denis Cullen’s charge, some two lengths adrift at the time, sustained a crashing final fence fall.
Eightybarackstreet caused a 14/1 upset by capturing the Richard Power Private Clients Betting Handicap Hurdle in the hands of his trainer Tom Cooper’s talented 3lb claiming son Bryan. Eightybarackstreet, an impressive Listowel festival bumper winner last September, stormed to the front before the final flight and duly came home by two lengths in the silks of Waterford city owner Nicholas Hartrey.
“We thought that this fellow was very good when he won his bumper. He has had a few problems, but he’s back to himself now and hopefully there will be more improvement to come,” said winning jockey Cooper.
The Paul Fahey-trained Point The Toes came home as she pleased in the Family Fun Day At Tramore Races (QR) Maiden Hurdle. Point The Toes, ridden by Fahey’s nephew Mark Fahey, made her way to the front before the second last to see-off Run Along Boy by four lengths.
This was a particularly special success for Point The Toes is owned by handler Fahey’s mother Maureen. Fahey himself explained: “My other three brothers that train Seamus, Jarlath and Peter have all trained a winner for our mother and it’s great that this mare has won here today. We will now look for a similar race for her in a few weeks.”
