O’Dwyer rolls back the years on Bullock Harbour
O’Dwyer, hero of two Cheltenham Gold Cups and two Champion Hurdles during his riding career, emerged best in the ten-runner affair organised as a fund-raiser for the erection of a statue of the legendary Arkle in nearby Ashbourne. The inimitable Lester Piggott was present to witness the event.
Adrian Maguire set a strong pace on Teak, allowing O’Dwyer to sit in a handy second position before making his move with more than a quarter of a mile to race. Bullock Harbour, in the colours of Barry Connell, readily forged clear to score by four and a half lengths from the gambled-on Priors Gold (6/1 — 7/2), the mount of Norman Williamson, coming through to fill the runner-up berth.
“That’s the way I like it now,” quipped a delighted and relieved O’Dywer. “No pushing or pulling, just a straight-forward task. Adrian set the race up nicely. My horse was always travelling well and galloped to the line. You won’t see me in the saddle again — unless it’s on a horse like this, when I can carry more than twelve stone.”
Winning owner Barry Connell explained: “We were anxious to run him and win on the flat with a view to getting a mark and running in the something like the Irish Ceserewitch or Leopardstown November Handicap. But, in the more immediate future, he’ll run in a two mile, six furlong novice in Killarney next week.”
Bullock Harbour’s trainer Jessica Harrington completed a double when 9/10 favourite Maller Tree, ridden by her daughter Kate, landed the bumper at the expense of Butterfly Lion.
The Karinga Bay gelding was gaining an overdue win after solid placed efforts in his three previous starts. His rider commented: “He’s a good horse and just got a bit lazy in front. I’d say he’ll go for a winners bumper before he goes hurdling.”
The rest of the evening belonged to Barry Geraghty, who triumphed on Bessie Liu, Jacksonslady and Magnetic Force in the opening three races.
Bessie Liu provided County Kilkenny trainer Michael Fitzgerald with his first win in over a year when scoring in the opening McCabes Garage Drogheda Mares Maiden Hurdle, beating Chase The Favorite by seven lengths. Fitzgerald, said: “It’s great to have a winner. We’ll see what the handicapper thinks of her before deciding what to do next. She’s tough and stays well and might go for a winners’ race.”
Geraghty was seen at his strongest on the Philip Dempsey-trained Jacksonslady in the www.angloprinters.ie Hurdle, keeping the flattering odds-on favourite Inspector Clouseau at bay by the minimum margin in a tremendous battle.
Trainer Dempsey commented: “She’s tough and consistent. Barry gave her a great ride. She’s usually free, but he got her settled and she kept finding for him when the favourite came at her. We’ll probably go for a handicap in Listowel next.”
Robbie Hennessy, who rode in the later ‘legends’ race, was also full of praise for Geraghty after the former champion completed his treble on Magnetic Force in the Lougher Stables Handicap Hurdle, digging deep to get the better of the Paul Carberry ridden Esporao by a length and a half.
Carberry enjoyed better luck when Original Option, trained by Noel Meade, turned over the Willie Mullins trained favourite Pozyc, on a recovery mission after Tramore on Sunday, in the Mullaghcurry Cup Handicap Hurdle.
Meade said: “This could be his trip, although I always thought he needed three miles. He used to hang, but going left-handed has helped. He’ll run in Killarney next week, either in another handicap hurdle or a beginners chase.”
The often disappointing Gormanstown Cuckoo, trained by Colm Murphy, belatedly opened his account when justifying odds-on favouritism under Davy Russell in the Nick O’Toole Arkle Memorabilia Maiden Hurdle. The seven-year-old will be aimed at a novice event before going chasing.
