Fortune favours Golden Silver
The 2-7 shot threw some particularly sketchy leaps and was struggling to get to Osirixamix heading to the final fence.
Osirixamix rose to the obstacle a good four lengths to the good and, apparently, full of running.
But he made no attempt to get to the other side, giving Robbie Moran little chance of keeping the partnership intact and leaving Golden Silver in for the most fortuitous of successes.
Jackie Mullins represented her husband and said: “He didn’t really jump and was lucky. I’d imagine Willie will have Leopardstown at Christmas in mind.”
Noel Meade’s Corbally Ghost produced a gritty display to land the Grade 3 Cork Stayers’ Novice Hurdle.
He made just about all of the running when taking his maiden at Punchestown, but Davy Condon was in no hurry on this occasion.
He did, however, ask his charge to edge ahead going to the second last and the imposing son of Central Park kept finding to hold Best Served Cold by a length and three parts.
Said Condon: “That was a good performance to win on that ground, as a four-year-old. I was a bit worried about him getting the trip and that’s why I didn’t make it. He jumped great and, I think, will make a lovely chaser.”
Stan James gave Corbally Ghost a 20-1 quote for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The other Grade 3, the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Lombardstown Mares’ Novice Chase, saw Charles Byrnes’ Knockfierna continue on an upward curve.
Partnered by Davy Russell, she was left in front when trail-blazing Mayo Mystique went at the third last and then battled on powerfully to hold Shop DJ.
“She’s only coming to herself”, reported Byrnes. “I had to twist Davy’s arm a little to get him to ride her, he was leaning towards Shop DJ. Thank God I got it right. A Grade 2 at Limerick will be next.”
Byrnes and Russell were also was also on the mark when Trifolium ran away with the modest corkracecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle.
“It wasn’t a great race”, said Byrnes with more than a hint of realism. Russell soon had Trifolium bounding away in front and he never left second gear to score by 24 lengths.
Rory O’Moore, off the track for over a year, stripped fit and well to run the opposition ragged in the Bumper.
Trained by Ronnie O’Neill and ridden by his son, John — enjoying his first winner — Rory O’Moore held a huge advantage throughout and never looked like relinquishing it.
“He was a big baby last season and we just gave him time”, said O’Neill senior.
Madame Mado, who won easily at Wexford previously, followed up with a smooth victory in the mallow.ie Handicap Hurdle.
Barry Cash was in the plate and he eased the mare ahead going to two out. The daughter of Lost World was soon in total control, crossing the line five lengths clear of Head Waiter.
Lookoutnow, who had run well at Thurles and Downpatrick, redeemed the promise of those efforts in the Follow Us On Twitter Novice Handicap Hurdle.
Ridden by Michael Butler for Eoin Doyle, and far from neglected in the market, Lookoutnow made most and was always holding Really Unique in the straight.
