Devote delivers under strong Geraghty drive
The Eoin Griffin-trained, French-bred six-year-old, winner of valuable handicap hurdle at Listowel little more than a year ago, stayed on stoutly under Geraghty’s driving to beat Nakajmia Nate by three-quarters of a length with favourite De Valira a close third.
The complexion of the race changed after leader Foildubh blundered and unseated Robbie Colgan three fences from home, before Dr.Whizz took a fatal fall at the next.
Winning trainer Griffin said: “He’s been a good servant for the lads (the Dubs V Culchies Syndicate which includes Irish soccer internationals John O’Shea and Stephen Hunt) and it’s great to end his busy summer campaign with a win.
“He’s very efficient over fences and, with luck, there might be a good handicap chase in him next year. He needs two and a half miles on a flat track so we’ll probably have a look at Aintree in the spring.
“He deserves a break now and needs treatment on a back injury.”
Henry de Bromhead, who will reintroduce Queen Mother Champion Chase victor Sizing Europe at Gowran Park on Saturday, has his string in good nick and was on the mark when House Rules, ridden by Andrew Lynch, justified 4/9 favouritism in the All Creatures Veterinary Novice Hurdle.
The Overbury gelding, in the familiar colours of Ann and Alan Potts, made all and stretched clear from the second last to slam Foildearg by fourteen lengths
De Bromhead commented: “He disappointed us over fences in Killarney, where he winged fences and then stopped for some reason so it’s good to get him back on track.”
Another successful odds-on favourite was Just For Joe, trained in County Galway by Hannah Lee, which made a successful hurdling debut ijn the concluding Four Roads Maiden Hurdle.
Off the track since winning a bumper in Cork last April, the Shay Barry-ridden Presenting gelding eased past front-running market rival Dowd’s Angle turning into the straight before staying on to beat Charlie Swift emphatically.
Earlier, Eddie O’Connell was seen to good effect on the Denis Cullen-trained grey Onzo Mor which challenged at the final fence before forging clear to beat the fast-finishing Indifference Curve by three and a quarter lengths.
In the flat action, Joseph O’Brien, who completed a double on Nephrite and Harrisons Cave at the Curragh on Sunday, moved within one winner of losing his 3lb. claim when 5/2 favourite Foot Soldier came from off the pace to win the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden.
