Page Turner gets McCurtain off the mark
McCurtain (20) has two successes in point-to-points to his credit. He was certainly seen to advantage, making virtually all of the running and getting the fractions exactly right.
Futuramic tried hard to close in the straight, but the winner never flinched and was 12 lengths to the good at the line.
Commented Walsh: “I thought he’d win once Willie Mullins’ horse (Pride Of the Parish, lame) came out.
“This is an excellent jumper and will make a cracking chaser. He has to wear blinkers and will go for a novice hurdle now.”
Catleen, who was second on her first outing for Mullins at Tramore, made no mistake in the www.liimerickraces.com Handicap Hurdle.
Partnered by Ruby Walsh, she joined issue with Rockers Field over two out and was soon in control.
Said Mullins: “She improved nicely from Tramore and, I think, will improve again. She is by Craigsteel and they often want better ground.”
The Declan Queally-trained Lisrose reaped the reward of consistency with a decisive success in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Mares’ Maiden Hurdle.
Partnered by his son, also Declan, the winner edged ahead early on the final circuit and kept going strongly to easily beat Mini Vic.
“She deserved that and has always been decent”, reported Queally senior. “She’s a fine big mare and may go for a beginners chase now.”
The complexion of the contest changed dramatically at the fifth last when well-backed favourite, Thynetocatcher, moving powerfully at the time, fell and brought down second favourite, Tellherimnothere.
Queally junior landed his first double on the track when guiding Scrapper Jack to victory in the Bumper.
Second on her debut to Willie Mullins’ Mozoltov at Thurles, Scrapper Jack went on over six furlongs down and made the rest to beat Kaylas Charm.
She is trained in Bandon by James Dullea and this was a third winner for him. Commented Dullea: “She has the makings of a very good mare.
“A winners’ bumper at Fairyhouse in three weeks will be next, she surprised me a bit here, I think she will be better on better ground.”
Special Token, disqualified after winning at Cork previously, made no mistake when outclassing the opposition in the Greenmount Beginners Chase.
She jumped and travelled beautifully for Martin Ferris, skipping away in the straight to score with plenty in hand.
“I rode her a bit differently to Cork and she enjoyed herself”, reported Ferris.
Come To The Party made it three wins in four races — he fell in the other — when taking the Greenmount Conference Centre Handicap Chase.
Confidently handled by Shay Barry, the nine-year-old cantered into the lead downhill to the home turn and only had to be pushed out to easily beat Mister First by seven lengths.
John Supple’s Killcara Boy cropped up at 16-1 in the Sporting Limerick Handicap Hurdle, but wasn’t neglected in the market after having his supporters from 28-1 down. Ridden by Joe Holly, he slogged his way through the testing conditions to get to the front between the last two flights to beat the frustrating Dr Proctor.
