Three more for Carberry
Carberry kicked-off on board the Gordon Elliott-trained even-money favourite Court Lexi, which got the better of Spring Hawk by a head in the opening Supermacs Dooradoyle Mares Maiden Hurdle, prompting her trainer to comment: “She’s still a bit green and probably hit the front a bit early. But she should improve and will go for a mares’ novice somewhere.”
Trainer Charlie Swan (in Navan) missed seeing Zaralabad land a significant gamble, under a typically confident Carberry ride, in the Join The Tote Go Racing Club Handicap Hurdle, the versatile eight-year-old coming through late to foil the flattering Tequila Lord by a length.
Speaking from Navan, Swan commented: “He seemed to do it well enough and will probably mix it, flat and hurdles, for the summer. We’ll look for another similar handicap and will probably step him up to two and a half miles.”
Carberry completed his second treble of the new season when bringing the Tony Martin-trained mare Victor Gale with a perfectly timed late challenge to beat hunter-chaser Rudi Trucker by five and a half lengths in the Cul Camps Limerick Handicap Chase.
A wide-margin winner at Kilbeggan last time, the Dessie Hughes-trained Definite Class followed-up in style when landing the features Irish Stallion Farms Mares Chase emphatically from favourite Shop Dj.
Ridden by Bryan Cooper, the Definte Article mare got on top at the last and drew clear to triumph by almost four lengths. Hughes commented: “She jumps and stays and likes decent ground. She’s eligible for those second season novice races later in the season. So we should have some fun with her.”
The Willie Mullins-trained Zuzka continued the remarkable strike-rate being enjoyed by the Supreme Horse Racing Club when winning the bumper from another talented mare, Kilbarry Beauty.
Winning rider Patrick Mullins said: “It’s a fair achievement for a mare to win a winners’ bumper. She’ll go hurdling and will be kept on the go for the summer. I’d say Galway and Listowel could be on her agenda.”
In the other action, trainer-rider Denis Hogan struck with Cerveza Dinero in the second division of the Limerick G.A.A. Handicap Hurdle, the first division having gone to Paul Gilligan’s Roving Ld, the mount of Andrew Lynch.
Mark Bolger registered his first success since March when guiding the Jessica Harrington-trained 25/.1 shot Clouded Thoughts to victory over Lord Ben in the Beginners Chase.
