Catch The Eye steps up in class with minimum of fuss
Puttore, fresh from an easy success at the Curragh last Saturday, was preferred to Catch The Eye in the market and looked the most likely winner early in the straight.
Approaching the furlong pole, however, it was clear Pat Smullen had Puttore covered and he only had to push out Catch The Eye to score by two lengths. Said Smullen: “She appreciated the ease in the ground and is progressing along just fine.”
Dermot Weld trains Catch The Eye and he completed a double with Galileo’s Choice in the KWD Recycling Race.
Robbie McNamara had the ride and never had to move a muscle on the progressive five-year-old.
McNamara eased Galileo’s Choice ahead under two furlongs down to beat Luska Lad by an unflattering three and a half lengths.
Luska Lad, having a first outing since the Punchestown festival in May, ran perfectly adequately and looks set for another good winter.
John Murphy continued his fine record at this track when saddling 20-1 shot Cul A Dun to win the O’Keeffe, O’Shea, O’Connor Solicitors’ Handicap.
Produced with impeccable timing by Leigh Roche, the Soviet Star gelding quickened clear inside the furlong pole to easily beat Shirley Blake.
Said Murphy: “We ran him three or four times on quick ground. I spoke to the owners and we decided to wait for some juice in the ground, luckily the rain came.”
The stewards, however, inquired into the apparent improvement in form of Cul A Dun, with the matter being referred onto the Referrals Committee.
Pat Flynn’s horses are in good shape and he was on the mark again with Binocular in the Ross Golf Club/Killarney Racegoers’ Club Handicap.
The seven-year-old edged ahead at the furlong pole, but had to get the full Danny Grant treatment to hold Mutiska by a short head. Grant was suspended for a day for using his whip with excessive frequency.
Commented Flynn: “He’s a grand horse, a great old servant, and will go for another handicap, either on the flat or over hurdles.”
Jessica Harrington’s newcomer, Hurricane Ridge, was best for money in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden and obliged under a strong Fran Berry drive.
He powered through in the final furlong to master the flattering Fort Sam Houston, with Wimpole Street staying on to claim third spot.
Harrington completed a double — taking her score at the meeting to five — when The Bull Hayes ran away with the Batty O’Sullivan Frayden Haulage Ltd Handicap Hurdle.
Barry Geraghty had the ride having flown in from America where he partnered Gordon Elliott’s Dirar to finish second at Saratoga in New York.
Geraghty certainly showed no ill-effects, sweeping The Bull Hayes (13-2 to 5-1) to the front over the third last to easily beat Life Of Reilly.
Thomond O’Mara’s Sultans Of Swing, off the track since October, stripped fit and well to beat the favourite, Donnachas Chant, in the M L Lynch Civil Engineering Ltd Maiden Hurdle.
The principals had it between them over the last two, with the winner showing the greater resolution.
“He will go to Listowel for a handicap”, reported O’Mara. “He has always been a good horse, but has had his problems.”
The Grand Hotel Killarney Handicap Hurdle saw victory going to the always prominent Markey Cee, who had this in safe keeping from three out.
