Saint Gervais finds winning form
The absence of likely second favourite, An Dearthair Og, from the contest ensured that the winner was always set to go off at short odds.
Opening offers of 4-5 found favour and John Kiely’s charge hardened to 4-7. He never gave supporters, under a confident Andrew McNamara, any cause for concern.
Saint Gervais cruised ahead between the last two obstacles to beat Celestial Prospect with plenty in hand.
“He was a nice horse last summer, but wasn’t at his best on soft ground,” reported Kiely. “He will go to Punchestown, but isn’t good enough for a novice race, so it will be a handicap.”
McNamara, who got engaged to be married on Monday, celebrated in style by completing a double aboard D’s Trix in the www.thetote.com Handicap Chase.
The last two fences weren’t jumped, due to a low lying sun, causing trainer, Andrew McNamara senior, to quip: “I knew the sun would be a problem here, so I gave this horse a spin on the flat at Limerick!”
His forward planning, so to speak, didn’t half work the oracle, with D’s Trix easing ahead over a furlong down to easily beat Grandeur Cappy. Mixing it between fences and hurdles for the summer is now the plan for the five-time winner.
Prince Ludovic showed his liking for a faster surface when giving Davy Russell his 99th success of the season in the opening two and a half mile Maiden Hurdle.
Russell was very positive and Paul Nolan’s charge made most of the running. Fine Presentation was always on his tail, but the winner threw a fine leap at the final flight and was nicely in control on the flat.
“It’s nice to have a winner,” exclaimed a relieved Nolan. “He will keep on the go through the summer, as long as staying sound.”
Maria Kelly, who trains a handful of horses on the Curragh, enjoyed her first National Hunt success when Hidden Diamond took the Beginners Chase. Her only other winner came on the flat at Ballinrobe with Appraise.
The last two fences weren’t jumped here either, with the winner sweeping through late to grab the flattering Headford Flyer.
Said Ms Kelly: “He’s been very consistent and loved the better ground, he was crying out for it.”
The www.thetote.com Handicap Hurdle had a wide-open appearance about it, but punters solved it, making the winner, Mount Welcome, favourite.
Philip Rothwell’s charge was backed from 7-1 to 9-2 favourite and led over the second last. Carlowsantana battled all the way to the line, but Mount Welcome never flinched and was a length and a half to the good at the line.
Declan Bates partnered both Hidden Diamond and Mount Welcome and this was a first double for him.
Rothwell was also expected to complete a double with Mayo Mystique in the Mares’ Beginners Chase, but the odds-on shoot found the surface far too lively.
She led or disputed throughout, but was beaten going to the second last, where Eddie O’Connell powered Fantastic Gold to the front.
Twin Plan was soon challenging, but the winner found loads for pressure and was comfortably in charge close home.
The layers finished their day on a high when 18-1 shot Behrama, ridden by Roger Quinlan, surged ahead two furlongs from home to score by six lengths.
Behrama is trained in Kildare by Noel Kennedy, whose only previous win came with Starling Force in another bumper at Gowran Park in March of last year.
